Breastfed Babies Have Lower Cholesterol as Adults

A study published in the August 2008 The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and reported on by the Press Association and Web MD on August 7 and 8 respectively, suggests that babies who are breastfed will have lower cholesterol levels as adults.

The study looked at over 17,000 participants of which 12,890 were breastfed, and 4,608 were formula fed. The results of the study showed that there was a small but significant decrease in cholesterol in those adults who were breastfed as babies. The articles noted that although the decrease in cholesterol was not large, if calculated across the whole population, there would be a 5 per cent reduction in cases of coronary artery disease.

Dr. Chris Owen, Epidemiologist at St. George's, University of London, and study author commented, "Because there is substantial evidence that breast milk provides long-term, protective health benefits, breastfeeding should be advocated when possible" He continued, "This study provides further evidence that breast feeding has long-term health benefits. Apart from all its other effects, it appears to lower blood cholesterol in later life."

The researchers hypothesize that ingestion of high cholesterol content of human breast milk by babies may set up physiologic changes that influence cholesterol synthesis thus causing lower cholesterol later in life. Dr. Owen explains, "This finding led us to hypothesize that early exposure to the high cholesterol content of breast milk could affect long-term cholesterol metabolism."

The conclusion of the study stated, "Initial breastfeeding (particularly when exclusive) may be associated with lower blood cholesterol concentrations in later life. Moves to reduce the cholesterol content of formula feeds below those of breast milk should be treated with caution."