Breastfeeding Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Fat Distribution in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Pilot Study

Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of breastfeeding on postpartum lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity and body fat distribution in women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods and Results: This was a retrospective pilot study. Participants were recruited from one-day GDM management clinics at the Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between 2017 and 2020. After obtaining their breastfeeding histories, the participants were divided into 2 groups based on their infant feeding practices: a non-breastfeeding group (n=11) and a breastfeeding group (n=20). Anthropometric measurements, insulin resistance indices (oral glucose tolerance test), questionnaires about infant feeding practices, and dietary intake and physical activity patterns were obtained at 6-28 weeks approximately 20 months postpartum. When comparing the breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding groups, body fat percentage, arm circumference, waist circumference, visceral fat area, and insulin sensitivity were significantly improved by breastfeeding ( P ≤0.05, for all). In addition, a longer duration of breastfeeding negatively correlated with arm circumference and waist circumference ( P ≤0.05, for all). Conclusions: Our study showed that breastfeeding improves lipid metabolism, body fat distribution and insulin sensitivity in women with GDM,which may be further influenced by the duration of breastfeeding.