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Endocrine Abstracts (2019) 63 GP32 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.63.GP32

1Biochemical Laboratory, Aretaieio Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; 2Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieio Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; 3Vascular Laboratory, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.


Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between a personal history of lactation and indices of subclinical atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women.

Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study included 283 postmenopausal women. Sonographically assessed indices of vascular function [pulse wave velocity (PWV)] and vascular structure [intima-media thickness (IMT), atherosclerotic plaque presence] were tested for possible association with the history of lactation.

Results: The duration of lactation ranged between 1 and 80 months. PWV was negatively associated with the duration of lactation (b-coefficient=−0.127, P value=0.038), independently of age, BMI, LDL-cholesterol levels, smoking and arterial pressure. Subclinical atherosclerosis was associated with lactation (OR=0.958, P value=0.042), age, BMI and arterial pressure. Women who had lactated for more than 6 months presented significantly decreased mean common carotid IMT compared with women who had lactated for 1 to 6 months (0.72+0.13 mm vs 0.68+0.13 mm, F=4.267, P value=0.041), independently of other traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

Conclusions: Postmenopausal women with a personal history of breastfeeding present decreased arterial stiffness and atherosclerosis, even after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. If causality is confirmed, these findings may indicate a protective effect of lactation against subclinical atherosclerosis in later life.

Volume 63

21st European Congress of Endocrinology

Lyon, France
18 May 2019 - 21 May 2019

European Society of Endocrinology 

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