Table 4.
Comparison of metabolic parameters between women with and without high-intensity breastfeeding at each postpartum visit
| Women with high-intensity breastfeeding | Women without high-intensity breastfeeding | P value | Adjusted *P value | Adjusted **P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At 6-8 weeks postpartum | |||||
| Number of participants (%) | 69 (79%) | 18 (21%) | |||
| BMI | 22.5 ± 4.3 | 24.4 ± 3.5 | 0.081 | 0.59 | 0.43 |
| Fasting plasma glucose | 87.3 ± 9.9 | 92.8 ± 9.0 | 0.036 | 0.13 | 0.18 |
| Fasting insulin | 5.1 ± 4.1 | 6.3 ± 3.0 | 0.24 | 0.85 | 0.67 |
| HOMA-IR | 1.12 ± 0.97 | 1.45 ± 0.73 | 0.18 | 0.74 | 0.60 |
| Disposition index | 3.89 ± 2.09 | 3.84 ± 3.05 | 0.94 | 0.21 | 0.81 |
| At 6-8 months postpartum | |||||
| Number of participants (%) | 52 (63%) | 31 (37%) | |||
| BMI | 21.6 ± 3.9 | 24.3 ± 5.6 | 0.0097 | 0.16 | 0.27 |
| Fasting plasma glucose | 91.3 ± 11.5 | 98.7 ± 12.5 | 0.0071 | 0.033 | 0.013 |
| Fasting insulin | 5.0 ± 2.3 | 8.2 ± 5.0 | 0.0001 | 0.0012 | 0.0002 |
| HOMA-IR | 1.16 ± 0.65 | 2.06 ± 1.33 | <0.0001 | <0.0001 | <0.0001 |
| Disposition index | 3.59 ± 3.12 | 3.06 ± 2.66 | 0.43 | 0.57 | 0.37 |
| At 12-14 months postpartum | |||||
| Number of participants (%) | 35 (46%) | 42 (54%) | |||
| BMI | 21.8 ± 4.2 | 23.9 ± 5.6 | 0.082 | 0.046 | 0.15 |
| Fasting plasma glucose | 91.2 ± 8.4 | 96.9 ± 10.9 | 0.013 | 0.045 | 0.032 |
| Fasting insulin | 5.4 ± 2.7 | 7.7 ± 4.7 | 0.013 | 0.028 | 0.045 |
| HOMA-IR | 1.24 ± 0.68 | 1.88 ± 1.26 | 0.0081 | 0.021 | 0.030 |
| Disposition index | 3.45 ± 3.05 | 3.79 ± 3.61 | 0.65 | 0.45 | 0.98 |
The breastfeeding condition at each visit was defined as the condition at the time of the visit. For example, breastfeeding women at the second (6 months) visit included women who had lactated for 6 months as well as (eventually) 12 months postpartum. Similarly, non-breastfeeding women at the second (6 months) visit included always non-breastfeeding women as well as women who had lactated for 6-8 weeks postpartum but did not continue to breastfeed through 6 months postpartum
BMI body mass index, NS not significant, HOMA-IR homeostasis model of assessment of insulin resistance, OGTT oral glucose tolerance test
*Adjusted for prepregnancy BMI and 2-h plasma glucose at the diagnostic OGTT during pregnancy
**Adjusted for age, prepregnancy BMI, family history of diabetes, 2-h plasma glucose at diagnostic OGTT during pregnancy, diagnostic criteria, weight gain during pregnancy and weight change during postpartum