You may have already heard of the benefits of breastfeeding. Babies who were breastfed by their mothers tend to be less sickly than babies who received infant formula. They also have decreased risks for childhood leukemia, atopic dermatitis and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

A new study, however, suggests that the benefits of breastfeeding go beyond infancy and childhood. In a new research published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, researchers from the Northwestern University used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health involving almost 7000 individuals between 24 to 32 years old to determine how levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with birth weight and the duration of breast feeding.

High level of CRP is linked with inflammation, which increases a person's risks of disability, cardiovascular diseases and even early death. The researchers found that the subjects who were breastfed for a shorter length of time during infancy tend to have increased CRP levels in adulthood.

Those who have been breastfeed for less than three months had CRP levels a fifth lower than those who were never breastfed at all. Individuals who were breastfed for three to six months had CRP levels reduced by 26.7 percent. Those breastfed for six to 12 months had CRP levels lowered by 29.6 percent and individuals who were breastfed for more than a year had their CRP levels reduced by 29.8%.

Studies show that statin therapy lowers CRP levels in adults by up to 17.4 percent. The researchers noted that the effect of breastfeeding on adults can be comparable or even better than the produced effect of statin drugs.

The researchers also observed an association between higher birth weight and lower CRP levels. Individuals who weighed 2.8 kilograms at birth, for instance, had 9.2 percent higher CRP levels than those who were born weighing one kilogram heavier.

"We present evidence that lower birth weight and shorter durations of breastfeeding both predict elevated concentrations of CRP in young adulthood, indicating increased risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases that are major health burdens in the US and the UK," study researcher Thomas McDade, from Northwestern University and his colleagues wrote [pdf].

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies up to six-months old. It also urges mothers to continue breastfeeding their children along with until they are two-years old or older.