When a woman breastfeeds, it stimulates the production of serotonin and would improve the functioning of beta cells in the pancreas. This process would limit the risk of postpartum diabetes.
Two out of three women breastfeed in France according to a 2016 study. The benefits of breastfeeding have been demonstrated: it helps protect the child from certain infections, prevents asthma and protects women from certain cancers. A study by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, published in Science Translational Medicine, completes the list of these benefits. Breastfeeding would reduce the risk of diabetes after birth.
Prolactin, serotonin and pancreatic beta cells
The research brought together 174 women who had given birth two months earlier: 85 of them were breastfeeding, the others were not. The researchers followed them for at least 3 years. They found that prolactin, a hormone produced during breastfeeding to stimulate milk production, has another role: it increases the number of beta cells in the pancreas. The latter make it possible to regulate glucose in the blood, but also produce serotonin, a hormone of well-being, during breastfeeding. Serotonin has an antioxidant action on these pancreatic cells. The researchers conclude that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of postpartum diabetes, thanks to two phenomena: the increase in the mass of beta cells in the pancreas and the improvement in their functioning. This phenomenon would last even after the cessation of breastfeeding, which would significantly improve the metabolism of mothers.
Gestational diabetes, a risk even after childbirth
According to european center for the study of diabetes, between 10 to 20% of pregnant women suffer from gestational diabetes, that is to say during their pregnancy. After childbirth, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is multiplied by 7 and persists for 25 years according to data from theHealth Insurance. Official recommendations indicate that the mother should be monitored for at least 25 years. If the risk is high, it However, there are ways to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes after childbirth: practicing physical activity, eating a balanced diet, quitting smoking and, if necessary, correcting excess weight.
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