Investigators: Prof Emily Banks, Dr Bette Liu (CI) Prof Louisa Jorm.
The main aim of this project was to examine the effect of breastfeeding on a woman’s subsequent risk of developing diabetes.
Diabetes is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Australia with more than one million Australians affected.(5) The reduction in risk of diabetes with breastfeeding reported from studies conducted in predominantly US populations is substantial (10-20%).(3) Given the high incidence of diabetes in Australia, the association between duration of breastfeeding and diabetes has important public health implications. This project analysed data from the 45 and Up Study to examine the association between breastfeeding and diabetes in Australian women and determine if this differs according to factors including body mass index, parity, ethnicity.
Outcomes resulting from this research:
Liu B, Jorm L, Banks E. Parity, breastfeeding and the subsequent risk of maternal type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2010 Jun;33(6):1239–41. doi: 10.2337/dc10-0347
