Abstract
Objective: To review the influence of breastfeeding on obesity and cardiovascular risk factors. Data Sources: A review of the scientific articles indexed by Medline, Lilacs and SciELO was performed. A literature search was performed using the Boolean technique (and) through descriptors combination: breastfeeding, obesity, blood pressure, diabetes, insulin resistance, cardiovascular risk, adipokines and gut microbiota. Results: The evidence points to the influence of breastfeeding on reducing risks of obesity, insulin resistance, cholesterol concentration and blood pressure in breastfed children. The possible mechanisms involved refer to hormones found in breast milk, nutritional adequacy and self-control of satiety by breastfed infant. Recently, the influence of breast milk in the colonization of the intestinal microbiota of the infant for probiotic bacteria has also been evidenced. Conclusion: Breastfeeding promotes short and long-term benefits in the infants who are breastfed early in life. Encouraging breastfeeding should be considered as a strategy for disease prevention even in early life, as well as chronic diseases at the long term.