Breastfeeding ‘cuts mother’s risk of cancer death by 10%’

WOMEN who breastfeed f or six months reduce their risk of dying from all cancers by 10 per cent, researchers say.

They also cut their chances of death from heart attacks and strokes by 17 per cent.

And following all the main recommendations for a healthy life reduces the risk of dying from a range of diseases by a third, the study found.

It looked at the contribution made to ill-health by poor lifestyles by examining how closely people complied with seven key recommendations to reduce cancer risk.

Researchers studied nearly 380,000 people in nine European countries over 12 years. They found that those who followed the advice from the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute f or Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) most closely cut their chances of dying from several diseases by 34 per cent. The recommendations are to main- tain a healthy weight, be physically active, cut down on foods and drinks that help increase weight, eat more plant foods, reduce consumption of meat and alcohol, and – in the case of nursing mothers – breastfeed for at least six months.

Dr Teresa Norat, of Imperial College London, who led the project, said: ‘This large European study is the first that shows there is a strong association be-

‘Recommendations

improve health’

tween following the WCRF/AICR recommendations and a reduced risk of dying from cancer, circulatory diseases and respiratory diseases. Now further research is needed in other large populations to confirm these findings.’

Those who most closely followed the WCRF/AICR recom- mendations cut their chances of dying from respiratory disease by 50 per cent, circulatory disease by 44 per cent and cancer by 20 per cent compared with those who had the lowest level of compliance. The recommendation with the greatest impact on reducing the risk of death from disease were being as lean as possible without becoming underweight.

Limiting alcohol consumption and following the plant food recommendation reduced the risk of dying from cancer by the greatest margin, 21 per cent and 17 per cent respectively.

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, is the first to examine breastfeeding as part of several lifestyle changes to see what effect it has on the risk of disease.

It showed women who breastfed for at least six months reduced the risk of death from circulatory disease by 17 per cent.

Half of Irish mothers breastfeed, far below the European average of nine in ten.