Maternal mineral and bone metabolism during lactation / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

ABSTRACT

Nursing mothers provide their infants with an average of 200-250mg of Ca/d, and as much as 400 mg/d. During lactation, maternal mineral ions and calciotropic hormones experience great changes. The main adaptations include increased skeletal resorption and reduced renal excretion of calcium, while the increased skeletal resorption plays a major role. In most cases, the physiological bone loss caused by breast-feeding does not cause clinical symptoms, which can be recovered completely after breast-feeding stopped. But among women with risk factors such as low bone mass before pregnancy, osteoporosis can occur during lactation and even to osteoporotic fractures. However, at present, there is still no definite conclusion for the treatment of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture related to lactation. The long-term effects of lactation on bone are still controversial. This article reviews the changes in the mineral and bone metabolism of women in lactation, so as to better understand and prevent the severe bone loss caused by breast-feeding.