Impact of lactational performance on bone mineral density in marginally-nourished Bangladeshi women

Abstract

This cross-sectional study, carried out during July 1997-June 1998, evaluated the effects of prolonged breast-feeding and lactational amenorrhoea on bone mineral density (BMD) in 400 marginally-nourished Bangladeshi women aged 20-81 years. A bone densitometer was used for measuring BMD in the distal and ultra-distal end of radius and ulna. The results showed that the women who breastfed for 60 months or less had a higher mean BMD compared to those who breastfed for 61-120 months and for over 120 months. There was a significantly higher BMD in the women who had a shorter duration of lactational amenorrhoea compared to those having a longer duration of lactational amenorrhoea. BMD was significantly and negatively correlated with total duration of lactational amenorrhoea (slope -0.024, p<0.05) after controlling for parity, physical workload, and total duration of breast-feeding. The study concluded that there was a negative correlation between longer duration of breast-feeding and BMD, but it was not found when other factors were controlled in multivariate analysis. The duration of lactational amenorrhoea, which is a proxy indicator of breast-feeding, showed a negative correlation with BMD. It is recommended that all lactating women be given diet with adequate calcium to support breast-feeding for maintaining good nutrition of their bones.