Abstract
Objective: Objective of the study was to determine association of lactation done during reproductive years of life on postmenopausal bone mineral density.
Methods:
Study was conducted at Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi for six months. It’s a case control study. Non probability sampling technique was used. Sample size of 200 comprising of 100 cases and 100 controls were taken. Bone mineral density on DXA scan was used as an outcome measure.
Results: Mean age of participants was 50 years with standard deviation of 0.78. Mean age of menopause was 47.7 years with SD ± 2.22 and mean years since menopause were 7.8 years with SD ± 4.6. Cases and control were matched for age, age of menopause, years since menopause, parity, body mass index and socioeconomic conditions. Lactation was performed by 84% (168) women. Calcium supplements were used by 44.5% (89) women during pregnancy and lactation. Odds ratio for lactation and bone mineral density is 1.16 and for calcium supplement intake and bone mineral density is 0.58.
CONCLUSION; In our study we conclude that performing lactation during reproductive years of life does not put women on increased risk of developing low bone mineral density after menopause.

Key words: Lactation, low mineral density, postmenopausal women