The association between breastfeeding and prevalence of metabolic syndrome in women with a previous major pregnancy complication

Maleesa M Pathirana; Emily Aldridge; Prabha H Andraweera; Melanie R Wittwer; Katie Lowe; Susan Sierp; Gustaaf A Dekker; Margaret A Arstall

doi:10.3389/fgwh.2026.1625603

The association between breastfeeding and prevalence of metabolic syndrome in women with a previous major pregnancy complication

Front Glob Womens Health. 2026 Feb 24:7:1625603. doi: 10.3389/fgwh.2026.1625603. eCollection 2026.

Authors

Maleesa M Pathirana^{1

2

3}, Emily Aldridge^{1

2

3}, Prabha H Andraweera^{1

2}, Melanie R Wittwer^{1

3}, Katie Lowe^{1

3}, Susan Sierp³, Gustaaf A Dekker^{1

2

4}, Margaret A Arstall^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
² Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
³ Department of Cardiology, Lyell McEwin Hospital, Elizabeth Vale, SA, Australia.
⁴ Division of Women's Health, Lyell McEwin Hospital, Elizabeth Vale, SA, Australia.

Abstract

Introduction: Maternal complications of pregnancy, including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, spontaneous preterm birth and placental abruption are individually associated with an increased risk of premature heart disease. Breastfeeding may reduce early postpartum cardiometabolic risk in this group. This study aimed the association between breastfeeding and the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the early postpartum period amongst women with previous pregnancy complication.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 524 women who attended an appointment in a postpartum cardiovascular disease prevention clinic for women with previous pregnancy complications (HREC: TQEH/16/LMH/258). Breastfeeding status was self-reported and cardiovascular disease risk factors were assessed at approximately 6 months postpartum. MetS was reported as a marker of cardiovascular health, defined using the Harmonising The Metabolic Syndrome definition. Statistical analysis was reported using SPSS Version 27.

Results: Breastfeeding for >5.5 months postpartum was associated with a lower prevalence of abnormal lipids (based on triglyceride and High Density Lipoprotein cut-offs for MetS), lower prevalence of treated hypertension and systolic blood pressure >130 mmHg. Women who breastfed for >5.5 months were 53% less likely to have MetS at 6 months postpartum (aOR 0.47 95%, CI 0.29-0.77). The prevalence of breastfeeding for >5.5 months was higher for women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (GDM 55% vs. non-GDM 44%, p = 0.025), and the prevalence of breastfeeding for >5.5 months was lower for women with a previous hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) (HDP 41% vs. non-HDP 59%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Women who breastfeed for longer is associated with lower prevalence of MetS and its components in the early postpartum period. However, further studies are required to assess this association based on lactation intensity.

Keywords: breastfeeding; gestational diabetes; metabolic syndrome; preeclampsia; pregnancy complications; preterm delivery; womens health.