Wednesday July 31, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A review study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that breastfeeding may help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus later in life.

Christopher G. Owen from University of London in London, United Kingdom and colleagues reviewed studies and found infants who were breastfed were at significantly reduced risk of type II diabetes meliitus later in life, compared with those who were formula-fed.

For the review, researchers went through 1,010 reports of which 23 examined the relation between breastfeeding and diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus in later life or risk factors of the disease.

Among 76,744 subjects in 7 studies, the researchers found those who were breastfed had a 38% lower risk of type 2 diabetes in later life than those who were formula fed.

Among 4,800 children and adults without type 2 diabetes mellitus in six studies,  those who were breastfed were found to have 3% lower fasting insulin concentrations than those who were formula fed.  But no significant difference was observed in fasting glucose concentrations. 

Breastfeeding was found to lower infants' preprandial blood glucose and insulin concentrations, compared with formula feeding.

The researchers concluded "Breastfeeding in infancy is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, with marginally lower insulin concentrations in later life, and with lower blood glucose and serum insulin concentrations in infancy." (reporting by David Liu, PHD)