The effect of breastfeeding duration on postmenopausal osteoporosis

There are some risk factors that facilitate the development of osteoporosis durimg the postmenopausal period. Studies that have examined the effect of breastfeeding on postmenopausal osteoporosis are limited and the results are contradictory. This research was conducted as a case-control study to determine the effects of breastfeeding duration on postmenopausal osteoporosis. The population of the investigation is composed of women who apply to make bone mineral density measurements in the Bone Densitometry Unit of a university hospital. G Power program was used to determine the size of the sample. A total of 144 postmenopausal women,48 with osteoporosis and 96 without osteoporosis, who met the criteria for participation in the study formed the sample group. Information forms were used for the collection of data. The T-scores of the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and the femoral neck as determined with DEXA measurements as well as height-weight measurements are also recorded in this form. In evaluating the data, descriptive statistics, T-test, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-Square tests were used. The study showed that women with osteoporosis breastfed approximately for 48 months, women without osteoporosis for 45 months and there is no significant difference between two groups. While comparing breastfeeding duration with lumbar spine (L1-L4) and femoral neck T-score averages, it was that determined that both L1-L4 and femoral neck T-score averages of women who breastfed for more than 60 months were better than the averages of those in other breastfeeding groups (those did not suckle at all, less than 24 months of breastfeeding and 25-60 months of breastfeeding) although no statistical difference was found between them. Considering other factors that may affect the development of osteoporosis, it was determined that women with osteoporosis had a higher average age, lower body weight and preferover-all clothing (p<0,05). No significant difference was determined between the two groups in terms of menarch age, menopausal age, the duration of menopause, parity, age at first pregnancy, number of pregnancies, the duration of postpartum amenorrhoea, the duration of breastfeeding and body height. According to this study, breastfeeding is not a risk factor for postmenopausal osteoporosis. In fact, it can be said that prolonged breastfeeding increases bone mineral density. Most of the findings of the various researches conducted on this subject, although they are in this direction, are contradictory. There is a need for more extensive research. KeyWords: Breastfeeding, osteoporosis, postmenopausal osteoporosis, bone mineral density, postmenopausal period.