Association Between Breastfeeding and Reduced Distal Sensory Polyneuropathy in Postmenopausal Women Aged 40–70 Years: Analysis of Data from the 1999–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

BACKGROUND: Distal sensory polyneuropathy (DSP) is a common peripheral neuropathy subtype. We aimed to determine the association between breastfeeding and DSP among postmenopausal women aged 40–70 years, and the effect modification of obesity on this association. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2004. Postmenopausal women aged 40–70 years were included. Women with diabetes, stroke, cancer, cardiovascular disease, thyroid disease, liver disease, weak/failing kidneys, or amputation were excluded. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the association between breastfeeding and DSP. RESULTS: Among 798 participants, 386 (44.30%) reported breastfeeding history and 51 (5.29%) were defined as having DSP using the monofilament test. A significant inverse association was observed between breastfeeding and DSP (odds ratio [OR] = 0.29; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.11–0.79; p = 0.017) after adjusting for other confounding variables. In subgroup analysis, this adjusted association was observed only in the obese group (OR = 0.21; 95% CI: 0.06–0.73, p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Breastfeeding was found to have potential benefits in the presence of DSP in postmenopausal women aged 40–70 years, and obesity modified the association between breastfeeding and DSP. Promoting breastfeeding may reduce the burden of peripheral neuropathy in middle-aged postmenopausal women.