I have been nursing my daughter, exclusively, for 11 months. Recently, I had some blood work done and my cholesterol was elevated. Is there a link between breastfeeding and elevated cholesterol levels?
During pregnancy, lipids and cholesterol levels fall during the first trimester and then rise throughout the remainder of your pregnancy. Increases in serum triglycerides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids are seen. This is not related to diet. The liver (the organ responsible for making most of our cholesterol) produces more cholesterol in response to the hormones of pregnancy.
Cholesterol levels can be very high during pregnancy and while nursing. Normal levels for total cholesterol are between 120 and 190 mg/dl, while typical values in pregnancy range from between 200 and 325 mg/dl. Nursing women also have higher levels of HDL and other beneficial lipoproteins. In an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 1989, the authors recommend against lipid screening during lactation. They go on to state that the effects of lactation on lipids are beneficial.
Women of childbearing age are generally at very low risk for developing heart disease. This does not mean I think that you should totally ignore your elevated levels, but, keeping in mind the recommendation to put off testing of lipids during lactation, share this information (including the references listed below) with your Health Care Provider, and plan on having your levels retested once you have weaned your baby. Keep in mind the significant risk factors for heart disease: smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, family history of heart disease, gender (male), being postmenopausal, and obesity.
You might also be interested to know that breastfeeding appears to have long-term benefits for your baby's cardiovascular health. While breastfed infants do have an increased mean total cholesterol and LDL level in infancy, they have lower levels as an adult (Pediatrics Vol. 110 No. 3 September 2002, pp. 597-608.) References
Nutrition in Pregnancy and Lactation
Journal of the American Medical Association, Cholesterol Levels and the Breastfeeding Mom, 1993, Vol. 261, No. 7
British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lipid Metabolism in Pregnancy, 1989, Vol. 89, 1982
