Korean J Fam Med.  2019 May;40(3):165-170. 10.4082/kjfm.17.0084.

Associations of Breastfeeding Duration and Reproductive Factors with Sarcopenia in Elderly Korean Women: A Cross-Sectional Study from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010–2011

• Kim JY
• Kim DH
• Kim YH
• Shin HY

• KMID: 2449014
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.17.0084

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Several studies have suggested that breastfeeding has a positive effect on long-term obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. This study aimed to examine maternal bone health, muscle mass, and obesity based on breastfeeding duration.
METHODS
This study was based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2011. We selected 2,027 elderly women by screening survey participants with a history of delivery. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) of sarcopenia, osteoporosis, and obesity among four breastfeeding groups.
RESULTS
The OR of sarcopenia significantly decreased with increasing breastfeeding duration (OR, 0.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11-0.65; P for trend <0.001), whereas the OR of obesity significantly increased with increasing breastfeeding duration (OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.43-4.60; P for trend=0.009) after adjusting for potential confounding variables. We also found a positive correlation between the duration since last delivery and sarcopenia.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest a negative correlation between prolonged breastfeeding and the prevalence of sarcopenia, and a positive correlation between prolonged breastfeeding and the prevalence of obesity. Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between breastfeeding and sarcopenia in the future.

Keyword

Breast Feeding; Sarcopenia; Obesity; Osteoporosis

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Breast Feeding*
Confounding Factors (Epidemiology)
Cross-Sectional Studies*
Female
Humans
Hyperlipidemias
Hypertension
Korea*
Logistic Models
Mass Screening
Nutrition Surveys*
Obesity
Odds Ratio
Osteoporosis
Prevalence
Sarcopenia*