Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (9)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Bernier, M. O.
Right arrow Articles by Thalabard, J. C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Bernier, M. O.
Right arrow Articles by Thalabard, J. C.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Human Reproduction Update, Vol.6, No.4 pp.374-386, 2000
© European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology 2000; all rights reserved

Breastfeeding and risk of breast cancer: a meta-analysis of published studies

M. O. Bernier1, G. Plu-Bureau1, N. Bossard2, L. Ayzac3 and J. C. Thalabard1,4

1 Department of Reproductive Medicine, Hoªpital Necker, Paris, 2 Department of Biostatistics, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Pierre Be¨nite, 3 Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Pierre Be¨nite, 4 Laboratory for Biostatistics, University Paris V, UFR Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France

To whom correspondence should be addressed at: J. C. Thalabard, Me¨decine de la Reproduction, Pavillon Apert, Hôpital Necker, 149, rue de Se(c)vres, 75743 Paris cedex 15, France. Phone: +33 144 49 43 91; Fax: +33 144 49 25 58; e-mail: thalabar{at}citi2.fr

Abstract

Evidence in favour of an association of breastfeeding with a breast cancer risk reduction remains limited and inconsistent. To evaluate the relation between breastfeeding and breast cancer, a meta-analysis based on a review of the literature was carried out, using as variables ever/never breastfeeding and duration of breastfeeding. Menopausal status at the time of diagnosis of breast cancer was considered to be a potential effect modifier. Only case-control studies could be included in the final analysis. A slight but significant decreased risk of breast cancer was observed in ever breastfeeding, compared with never breastfeeding parous women, using both the fixed and random-effect models. This decrease was more pronounced in non-menopausal women at the time of diagnosis of breast cancer and in long-term breastfeeding women. Hence, breastfeeding appeared to be a protective factor but was of small magnitude compared with other known risk factors for breast cancer. Whether this result should imply a modification in the attitude of both health care providers and women towards breastfeeding, which represents one of the few identified protective factors which is under the control of the mother, and is thus (theoretically) modifiable, remains questionable.

Key words: breastfeeding / breast cancer / meta-analysis / epidemiological methods


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Arch Intern MedHome page
A. M. Stuebe, W. C. Willett, F. Xue, and K. B. Michels
Lactation and Incidence of Premenopausal Breast Cancer: A Longitudinal Study
Arch Intern Med, August 10, 2009; 169(15): 1364 - 1371.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ANN INTERN MEDHome page
M. Chung, G. Raman, T. Trikalinos, J. Lau, and S. Ip
Interventions in Primary Care to Promote Breastfeeding: An Evidence Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
Ann Intern Med, October 21, 2008; 149(8): 565 - 582.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Hum LactHome page
N. B. Bar-Yam
Breastfeeding and Human Rights: Is there a Right to Breastfeed? Is there a Right to be Breastfed?
J Hum Lact, November 1, 2003; 19(4): 357 - 361.
[PDF]

Home page
 J Hum LactHome page
A. Merewood and B. L. Philipp
Promoting Breastfeeding in an Inner-City Hospital: How to Address the Concerns of the Maternity Staff Regarding Illicit Drug Use
J Hum Lact, November 1, 2003; 19(4): 418 - 420.
[PDF]

Home page
 Evid. Based Med.Home page
L. Bordeleau
Review: breastfeeding is associated with reduced risk of breast cancer
Evid. Based Med., March 1, 2003; 8(2): 63 - 63.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.