Hepatology. 2021 Jun 30. doi: 10.1002/hep.32034. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Breastfeeding has multiple effects on maternal health outcomes. However, the effect of breastfeeding on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in parous women remains unclear.
METHOD: A total of 6,893 Korean parous women aged 30 to 50 years who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were assessed for the association between breastfeeding and NAFLD. The duration of lactation was calculated by dividing the total lactation period by the number of breastfed children. NAFLD was defined by the hepatic steatosis index (HSI).
RESULTS: Of 6,893 women, 1,049 (15.2%) had NAFLD. The prevalence of NAFLD was 18.3%, 14.3%, 12.3%, 14.4%, and 15.8% in women with a breastfeeding period of < 1 month, ≥ 1 to < 3 months, ≥ 3 to < 6 months, ≥ 6 to < 12 months, and ≥ 12 months, respectively. In a fully-adjusted model, breastfeeding (≥ 1 month) was associated with reduced NAFLD prevalence [odds ratio (OR): 0.67, 95% confidence intervals (CIs): 0.51-0.89] after adjusting for metabolic, socioeconomic, and maternal risk factors. Fully-adjusted ORs (95% CIs) decreased with an increase of breastfeeding duration: 0.74 (0.49-1.11), 0.70 (0.47-1.05), 0.67 (0.48-0.94), and 0.64 (0.46-0.89) for women with ≥ 1 to < 3 months, ≥ 3 to < 6 months, ≥ 6 to < 12 months, and ≥ 12 months of breastfeeding duration, respectively, compared to women with < 1 month of breastfeeding duration. Such association was also observed in all pre-defined subgroups without interaction.
CONCLUSION: Breastfeeding showed a protective effect against NAFLD in later life of parous women, suggesting a maternal benefit of breastfeeding on NAFLD.
PMID:34192367 | DOI:10.1002/hep.32034
