Breastfeeding slashes risk of rheumatoid arthritis to half

A new study has found that women who breastfeed their babies for more than a year slashes down their chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis to half.

The researchers from the Malmo University Hospital in Sweden, compared 136 women suffering from rheumatoid arthritis with 544 healthy women of same age.

The scientists found that women who breastfed for more than a year were 54 percent less likely to develop the life long disease than women who had not. Also, women who had breastfed between 1 and 12 months were 26 percent less likely to develop the disease.

Lead author, Mitra Pikwer along with team said, "Although it is difficult to separate the effect of breast feeding from that of childbirth, our data suggest that rheumatoid arthritis is inversely associated with long-term breastfeeding, rather than with the number of children born."

The scientists also looked at the role of oral pills, which are said to cut the risk of developing the disease, as they contain hormonesdefine that are elevated during pregnancy. But the researchers found that having pill does not protect women from developing the disease. Also, only having a child and not breastfeeding did not seem to have a protective effect.

"This difference may partly be explained by hormonal factors," they wrote. "A number of studies have shown that use of oral contraceptives (OCs), which contain hormones that are also raised during pregnancy, may protect against rheumatoid arthritis and be associated with milder disease and less frequent hospital referrals, but some studies have failed to show any protective effect of OC use."

According to study, women have two to three times more chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis as compared to men. Nearly as many as 400,000 people in UK have rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis or RA is an auto-immune disease. Our immune systemdefine uses antibodies to protect us against disease and infection. In rheumatoid arthritis, the antibodies attack joints and can also affect other parts of body, such as the linings of heart, lungs, eyes and mouth. It often starts between ages 25 and 55.

The cause behind rheumatoid arthritis is not known. Genesdefine, environment and hormones might contribute to it. Smokers are also more at risk for developing RA.

A new research has found that fewer than one in 100 women breastfeed exclusively for the first six months and many mothers resort to using formula milk within weeks.

Researchers concluded in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases by writing, "Breastfeeding is known to have multiple health benefits for the baby and may protect mothers against breast cancerdefine and ovarian cancer .

"Furthermore, our results indicate that breastfeeding may have a dose-dependent protective effect against RA."

Breastfeeding: Best for mother, best for babies

Mothers who breastfeed baby loose weight easily and it also encourages her uterusdefine to contract and get back in its normal size and position after having been stretched during pregnancy.

The incidence of cancer of breast, ovaries, anemia and osteoporosis are less in women who breastfeed. A study found that breast-fed babies appear to be less likely to develop type 2 diabetesdefine when they reach adolescence.

Studies show that woman who breastfeed their babies have fewer episodes of post-delivery depressiondefine.