Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026

Using Chronic Social Stress to Model Postpartum Depression in Lactating Rodents
Published on: June 10, 2013
Lactation and maternal subclinical cardiovascular disease among premenopausal women
Candace K McClure1, Janet M Catov, Roberta B Ness
1Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. candacekmcclure@gmail.com
Objective:
The objective of the study was to examine the association between lactation and maternal subclinical cardiovascular disease.
Study Design:
The Women and Infants Study of Healthy Hearts enrolled 607 mothers who delivered a singleton between 1997 and 2002. In 2007, participating mothers underwent measurements of carotid intima-media thickness, lumen diameter, adventitial diameter, and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity. Multivariable linear and logistic regressions were used to estimate the associations between lactation and subclinical cardiovascular disease.
Results:
Compared with mothers who breastfed for 3 or more months after every birth, mothers who never breastfed exhibited a 0.13 mm larger lumen diameter (95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.22) and a 0.12 mm larger adventitial diameter (95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.22) in models adjusting for age, parity, birth outcome, sociodemographic variables, health-related behaviors, family history, gestational weight gain, early adult body mass index, current body mass index, C-reactive protein, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, glucose, and insulin levels.
Conclusion:
Mothers who do not breastfeed have vascular characteristics associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease.
Related Concept Videos
Coronary Artery Disease III: Clinical Manifestations
Disorders of the Female Reproductive System
Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle
At puberty, GnRH begins a pulsatile release pattern, which triggers the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The frequency and amplitude of GnRH pulses vary across the menstrual cycle, with faster pulses favoring LH release and slower pulses favoring FSH release.
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
Mitral Valve Prolapse III: Nursing Management
Acute Coronary Syndrome II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations
