Fig. 1: Flowchart of inclusion and metabolomic score derivation methodology.
From: Plasma metabolomic signature of breastfeeding and risk of cardiometabolic diseases

We investigated associations of total duration of breastfeeding across all pregnancies with plasma metabolites using high-throughput metabolomics in two well-characterized cohorts of middle-aged to older women (Nurses’ Health Studies, NHS & NHSII), and derived a metabolite-based breastfeeding score and replicated this score in an independent cohort of postmenopausal women (Women’s Health Initiative, WHI). We further investigated the prospective associations of metabolite-based breastfeeding score with the risk of type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Results were externally replicated in the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) trial and the WHI cohort.