Breastfeeding 'could reduce rheumatoid arthritis risks'
Breastfeeding could reduce rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risks, a new study has shown.
Researchers from Malmo University Hospital in Sweden published their findings in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
The trial involved 136 women with RA and 544 women of a similar age without the disease.
It was discovered that those who breastfed for the longest were much less likely to suffer from RA later in life.
In fact, women who breastfed for more than 13 months were around 50 per cent less likely to get rheumatoid arthritis when compared to those who had never breastfed their children. People who breastfed for less than one year were still 25 per cent less likely to suffer from RA.
The report added that simply having a baby, but not breastfeeding, did not seem to reduce the risk of RA.
They pointed out that the research provided another reason for women to breastfeed their offspring.
Professor Alan Silman, medical director of the Arthritis Research Campaign, said the new research was extremely interesting, particularly as previous work had shown quite different results.
"In the past we have shown that breast feeding was a risk factor for developing rheumatoid arthritis in a small group of women soon after giving birth to their first child.
"This is slightly different in that it is looks at longer-term risk. One explanation could be that women who breastfeed may lead healthier lifestyles than women who don't, but we don't know the mechanisms that would explain this fully, and not enough work as been done in this area."
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