CLINICAL NEWS

Breastfeeding's Impact on Blood Pressure

Previous research shows women who breastfeed are more likely to have children with low blood pressure. However, a new study suggests breastfeeding;s effect on blood pressure may not be as significant as previously thought. Researches from London reviewed 24 studies to determine whether children of mother who breastfeed are more likely to have lower blood pressure at different ages throughout childhood than children of mothers who do not breastfeed.

Results of the study shows systolic pressure lower in breastfeed children than in bottle-fed children. However, researches found no significant difference in diastolic blod pressure between breastfeed and bottle-fed groups. In addition, they found no specific trend among the different age groups studied.

Researches also say most studies that show a strong correlation between breatfeeding and low blood pressure are small, which raises the possibility of publication bias. Authors of the study write, "Our systematic review found that publication bias may partly explain the lower mean systolic blood pressure observed in participants that had been breastfeed in infancy, with large studies showing little difference." Researches add, even if publication bias did occur, the overall difference in systolic blood pressure was only 1.1 Millimeters of mercury, which they say is fairly modest.

However researches still recommend that mothers breastfeed their infants because of other long-term benefits such as improved neural and psychological development, potential protection against obesity, and possible allergy immunity.

Source: http://www.healthcentral.com & Homoeopathic Medical Panorama