Breastfeeding and Reduced Risk of Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND: Evidences which prove relation between breastfeeding women and risk of breast cancer have been limited. OBJECTIVE: A meta-analysis was carried out on the basis of published literature from clinical trials and studies among different parts of the world. METHODS: Studies were analyzed and extracted using PRISMA flowchart. RevMan 5.4.1 was used for analyzing the extracted data. Included studies were fully cited texts with complete information about studies, trails conducted for risk of breast cancer, and breastfeeding correlations. RESULTS: Menarche age, family history, lactation duration, and menopausal status have a strong effect on the risks of breast cancer. Family history studies concluded that for 95% CI, the risk ratio was 2.66 (2.00, 3.52). CONCLUSION: Findings have suggested that family history and lactation duration affect the risks of breast cancer.