Hypothesis: Smoking decreases breast feeding duration by suppressing prolactin secretion

Abstract A number of studies, including new data summarized here, conclude that breast feeding duration is lower in smoking mothers. Although some have suggested that this merely reflects poor health motivation in those prone to smoke, several lines of evidence support the view that chronic smoking...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical hypotheses 2013-10, Vol.81 (4), p.582-586
Main Authors: Bahadori, Babak, Riediger, Natalie D, Farrell, Sharla M, Uitz, Elisabeth, Moghadasian, Mohammed F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Breast Feeding
Dopamine - metabolism
Female
Humans
Internal Medicine
Milk, Human - chemistry
Models, Biological
Nicotine - toxicity
Prolactin - secretion
Smoking - adverse effects
Time Factors
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Summary:Abstract A number of studies, including new data summarized here, conclude that breast feeding duration is lower in smoking mothers. Although some have suggested that this merely reflects poor health motivation in those prone to smoke, several lines of evidence support the view that chronic smoking does indeed compromise breast feeding by suppressing prolactin secretion and thereby lowering breast milk volume. Moreover, a recent clinical trial shows that an effective smoking cessation program can boost breast feeding duration in smokers. An analysis of pertinent rodents studies suggests that chronic nicotine administration boosts dopaminergic activity in the tuberoinfundibular tract which functions to inhibit prolactin release; this increase in dopaminergic activity, in turn, may reflect a nicotine-mediated suppression of hypothalamic opioid activity.
ISSN:0306-9877
1532-2777
DOI:10.1016/j.mehy.2013.07.007