A study by researchers at Yale University found that breastfeeding can have a positive impact on women’s health. Gazeta.ru .
During experiments on mice, it was found that breastfeeding can increase the number of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This may be of great importance for the prevention of type 2 diabetes, since insulin is involved in regulating blood sugar levels.
For the experiment, scientists chose mice that went through the stages of pregnancy and gave birth to offspring. The animals were divided into two groups: the first included mice that fed their cubs with breast milk, and the second – mice whose cubs were separated from their mothers immediately after birth.
After a month after birth, mice from both groups had approximately the same body weight. However, mice that did not breastfeed their young were found to have more metabolically active fat, similar to visceral fat in humans.
Interestingly, mice that did not breastfeed their young were found to have fewer cells responsible for insulin production in the pancreas. As a result, the body had less reserves to produce insulin, which can increase the risk of developing diabetes.
Previous studies have shown that prolonged breastfeeding by a mother lowers her lifelong risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The scientists behind the new study found that prolonged breastfeeding was associated not only with an increase in the stores of cells associated with insulin production, but also with an increase in insulin sensitivity. However, human clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.
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