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
- Author:
Ja Young KIM
1
;
Do Hyoung KIM
;
Young Hyo KIM
;
Hyun Young SHIN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Breast Feeding; Sarcopenia; Obesity; Osteoporosis
- MeSH: 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
- From:Korean Journal of Family Medicine 2019;40(3):165-170
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- 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.
