Breastfeeding and Multiple Sclerosis

Breastfeeding is good for babies and mothers as well. Mothers do their selves a favour by breastfeeding, and that is true for women with chronic diseases like MS as well. Langer-Gould et al (2009;2010) studied the combinations of Multiple Sclerosis and breastfeeding and vitamin D and with exclusivity of breastfeeding. They found that probably exclusive breastfeeding and concomitant suppression of menses significantly reduces the risk of postpartum relapses in MS.  In another study they found that although during pregnancy and exclusive breastfeeding in women with MS 25(OH)D levels are low, this was not associated with an increased risk of postpartum MS relapses. Earlier Haas & Homme (2007) found that breastfeeding had a positive effect on postpartum MS patients with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment in the 6 months postpartum.

Haas J, Hommes OR: A dose comparison study of IVIG in postpartum relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.  Multiple Sclerosis 2007; 13: 900-908.

Langer-Gould A, Huang SM, Gupta R; Leimpeter AD, Greenwood E; Albers KB, Van Den Eeden SP, Nelson LM: Exclusive Breastfeeding and the Risk of Postpartum Relapses in Women With Multiple Sclerosis. Arch Neurol. 2009;66(8):958-963.

Langer-Gould A, Huang S, Van Den Eeden SK, Gupta R, Leimpeter AD, Albers KB, Horst R, Hollis B, Steinman L, Nelson LM: Vitamin D, Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Postpartum Multiple Sclerosis Relapses.  Arch Neurol. Published online November 8, 2010.