title: Breastfeeding and maternal health outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of breastfeeding on long-term (breast carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus) and short-term (lactational amenorrhoea, postpartum depression, postpartum weight change) maternal health outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library and CABI databases. Outcome estimates of odds ratios or relative risks or standardised mean differences were pooled. In cases of heterogeneity, subgroup analysis and meta-regression were explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Breastfeeding >12 months was associated with reduced risk of breast and ovarian carcinoma by 26% and 37%, respectively. No conclusive evidence of an association between breastfeeding and bone mineral density was found. Breastfeeding was associated with 32% lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Exclusive breastfeeding and predominant breastfeeding were associated with longer duration of amenorrhoea. Shorter duration of breastfeeding was associated with higher risk of postpartum depression. Evidence suggesting an association of breastfeeding with postpartum weight change was lacking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review supports the hypothesis that breastfeeding is protective against breast and ovarian carcinoma, and exclusive breastfeeding and predominant breastfeeding increase the duration of lactational amenorrhoea. There is evidence that breastfeeding reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes. However, an association between breastfeeding and bone mineral density or maternal depression or postpartum weight change was not evident.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Research and Development, Society for Applied Studies, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ranadip
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Research and Development, Society for Applied Studies, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Bireshwar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.affiliation: Newborn Health Knowledge Centre, ICMR Centre for Advanced Research in Newborn Health, Department of Paediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Mari Jeeva
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sankar
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Research and Development, Society for Applied Studies, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Sunita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taneja
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Research and Development, Society for Applied Studies, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Nita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhandari
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rollins
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bahl
authors.affiliation: Centre for Intervention Science in Maternal and Child Health, Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martines
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology; D001942:Breast Feeding; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation; D000068097:Maternal Health; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Breastfeeding; Long and Short Term; Maternal health; Meta-analysis