Impact of lactational performance on bone mineral density in marginally-nourished Bangladeshi women.
This cross-sectional study, carried out during July 1997-June 1998, evaluated the effects of prolonged breast-feeding and lactational amenorrhoea on bone mineral density (BMD) in 400 marginally-nourished Bangladeshi women aged 20-81 years. A bone densitometer was used for measuring BMD in the distal and ultra-distal end of radius and ulna. The results showed that the women who breastfed for 60 months or less had a higher mean BMD compared to those who breastfed for 61-120 months and for over 120 months. There was a significantly higher BMD in the women who had a shorter duration of lactational amenorrhoea compared to those having a longer duration of lactational amenorrhoea. BMD was significantly and negatively correlated with total duration of lactational amenorrhoea (slope -0.024, p<0.05) after controlling for parity, physical workload, and total duration of breast-feeding. The study concluded that there was a negative correlation between longer duration of breast-feeding and BMD, but it was not found when other factors were controlled in multivariate analysis. The duration of lactational amenorrhoea, which is a proxy indicator of breast-feeding, showed a negative correlation with BMD. It is recommended that all lactating women be given diet with adequate calcium to support breast-feeding for maintaining good nutrition of their bones.
Chowdhury
S
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Child and Mother Health, Matuail, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Sarkar
N R
NR
Roy
S K
SK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000503:physiopathology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001459:Bangladesh; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors