The use of complementary and alternative medicines during breastfeeding: results from the Herbal supplements in Breastfeeding InvesTigation (HaBIT) study

Bettiol, Alessandra; Lombardi, Niccolò; Marconi, Ettore; Crescioli, Giada; Bonaiuti, Roberto; Maggini, Valentina; Gallo, Eugenia; Mugelli, Alessandro; Ravaldi, Claudia

doi:10.1111/bcp.13639

Cited by 21 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 19 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Fourteen interventional 56–69 and 11 observational studies 34,70–79 were graded as high quality; 10 interventional 80–89 and 13 observational studies 14,31,90–100 were graded average quality, and five interventional 101–105 and two observational studies 24,106 were graded poor quality. These poor-quality studies were still included in the review, only low-quality case reports were excluded (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…13–23 In the United Kingdom, approximately 40% of pregnant women use herbal medicinal products to treat pregnancy related problems or as nutritional supplements to better pregnancy outcomes. 16,17 This use of herbal medicinal products appears to extend into the postnatal period with 31% of breastfeeding women reporting the use of complementary and alternative medicines, including herbal medicinal products, to treat a variety of ailments 24 or to improve milk flow. 25…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Herbal Medicinal Product Use During Pregnancy and the Postnatal Period

Balbontin

Stewart

Shetty

et al. 2019

Obstetrics &Amp; Gynecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Herbal Medicinal Product Use During Pregnancy and the Postnatal Period

Balbontin

Stewart

Shetty

et al. 2019

Obstetrics &Amp; Gynecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…To the best of our knowledge, this is the first Italian study characterizing the attitudes towards the use of CAMs among Italian breastfeeding women with history of pregnancy loss. Results from this post hoc analysis in the framework of the HaBIT study [ 15 ] confirm that the use of CAMs during breastfeeding is widespread among Italian women at first breastfeed. Most frequently used CAMs were herbal preparations, followed by phytotherapics and dietary supplements.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…This is an observational study based on a web survey conducted over a six-year period (from February 1, 2012, to October 31, 2017). The methodology for data collection and the administered questionnaire have been extensively described elsewhere [ 15 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Poor support by trained healthcare personnel is not limited to the gestational period, but further involves the postpartum: lack of proper sanitary support in this phase is a major clinical issue, considering that breastfeeding may be related to different complications that may also require medications use. In a national web-based survey conducted on 388 lactating women in the frame of the Herbal supplements in Breastfeeding InvesTigation (HaBIT), 204 women declared use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) during breastfeeding, mainly for the treatment of engorgement and breast fissures [ 15 ]. CAMs use was particularly high for women at the first child, and most of them informed their doctor of CAMs use during lactation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Impact of Previous Pregnancy Loss on Lactating Behaviors and Use of Herbal Medicines during Breastfeeding: A Post Hoc Analysis of the Herbal Supplements in Breastfeeding InvesTigation (HaBIT)

Bettiol

Lombardi

Marconi

et al. 2018

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction Complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) are commonly used among lactating women, despite the poor knowledge of these products and of their safety. Perception of pregnancy- and breastfeeding-related difficulties and consequent use of CAMs may differ in bereaved women, by force of the distress related to previous loss, although no literature evidence is available. This Herbal supplements in Breastfeeding InvesTigation (HaBIT) post hoc analysis explored the impact of previous pregnancy loss on lactating behaviors and on use of CAMs during breastfeeding. Methods A web-based survey was conducted among lactating women with no previous alive child, resident in Tuscany (Italy). Data on lactating behavior and on CAMs use were collected and evaluated among women with previous pregnancy loss as compared to control women. Results Out of 476 women answering the questionnaire, 233 lactating women with one child were considered. Of them, 80 had history of pregnancy loss. Cesarean birth was significantly more frequent among women with history of pregnancy loss as compared to controls (41% versus 22%; p=0.004). Proportion, length of exclusive breastfeeding, and occurrence of breastfeeding-related complications were comparable among the two cohorts. More than half of women used CAMs during breastfeeding. Use of CAMs was more frequent among women with previous pregnancy loss (54% versus 68%; p=0.050), specifically considering herbal preparations (16% versus 30%; p=0.018). Major advisors for CAMs use were midwives. 18% and 23% of women without and with history of pregnancy loss declared no clear perception on CAMs efficacy and safety. Conclusion Overcoming the social taboo of pregnancy loss and training healthcare professionals for an adequate management of the perinatal period are essential for an effective and safe care. Despite the common use and advice on CAMs use during breastfeeding, it is important to acknowledge that limited evidence supports their safety and efficacy during such critical period.

show abstract

Medulla Tetrapanacis water extract ameliorates mastitis by suppressing bacterial internalization and inflammation via MAPKs signaling in vitro and in vivo

Kwok,

Hu,

Tsoi

et al. 2024

Food Frontiers

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Medulla Tetrapanacis (MT) is a commonly used herbal ingredient in soup to promote lactation and management of mastitis among lactating mothers worldwide, particularly in Asian countries. However, scientific evidence to support its usage in the management of mastitis is limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of MT water extract and its underlying mechanisms in Staphylococcus aureus (SA)–induced mastitis in human mammary epithelial cells (HuMEC) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)–induced mastitis in lactating Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. The anti‐inflammatory and antibacterial effects of MT water extract were examined in SA‐infected HuMEC by ELISA and plate counting, respectively. The effects of MT water extract on blood‐milk barrier and the underlying mechanism of action of the MT water extract were also investigated by transendothelial electrical resistance assay and western blot. The effects and mechanisms of MT water extract on alleviating mastitis on SD rats were evaluated using LPS‐induced mastitis rat model. Our results showed that MT water extract could suppress SA‐induced mastitis by reducing SA internalization and growth, protecting blood‐milk barrier integrity, and attenuating release of cytokines (interleukin 6 [IL‐6] and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha [TNF‐α]) in HuEMC. Furthermore, the antibacterial effect might be related to the increase of antimicrobial peptides transcription, and the anti‐inflammatory effect is at least partly mediated by inactivation of p38 and JNK signaling pathways. Finally, our in vivo results showed that MT water extract ameliorated LPS‐induced mastitis in SD rats via suppressing inflammatory cytokine release (TNF‐α, IL‐6, and interleukin‐1 beta), myeloperoxidase, and alleviating pathohistological damage by downregulation of JNK signaling pathway.

show abstract

The use of complementary and alternative medicines during breastfeeding: results from the Herbal supplements in Breastfeeding InvesTigation (HaBIT) study

Abstract: These results demonstrate the need for healthcare providers to increase the awareness of breastfeeding women about CAMs. Further research is needed to support the evidence base for nonpharmaceutical approaches for symptom control during breastfeeding.

Cited by 21 publications

References 19 publications

Herbal Medicinal Product Use During Pregnancy and the Postnatal Period

Herbal Medicinal Product Use During Pregnancy and the Postnatal Period

The Impact of Previous Pregnancy Loss on Lactating Behaviors and Use of Herbal Medicines during Breastfeeding: A Post Hoc Analysis of the Herbal Supplements in Breastfeeding InvesTigation (HaBIT)

Medulla Tetrapanacis water extract ameliorates mastitis by suppressing bacterial internalization and inflammation via MAPKs signaling in vitro and in vivo

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About