Parity, age at first birth, breastfeeding, and risk of major osteoporotic fractures in middle-aged women. The HUNT study
Authors' conclusion
Higher parity, later age at first birth, and longer breastfeeding duration were each associated with modest reductions in fracture risk after adjusting for potential confounding factors.
Study context
- Population
- Women aged ≥ 45 years in the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), Norway7,520 major osteoporotic fracture (MOF)
- Participants
- 41,274 women
- Exposure
- Parity, age at first birth and lifetime breastfeeding duration vs reference categories (two births; first birth at 20-24; never breastfed)
- Outcome
- First major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) in hip, spine, proximal humerus, or distal forearm
Methodological detailspopulation-based, linked with the Medical Birth Registry of Norway and hospital-based fracture records, Cox proportional hazards regression
- Population-based
- Linked with the Medical Birth Registry of Norway and hospital-based fracture records
- Cox proportional hazards regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
First MOF
Hazard ratio (95% CI)
Four birthsvs Two births
0.92(0.86–0.98)
Each additional birth
0.98(0.96–0.99)
First birth at ≥ 30vs First birth at 20-24
0.92(0.85–1.00)
Breastfeeding ≥ 21 monthsvs Never breastfed
0.89(0.76–1.02)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Parity, age at first birth, breastfeeding, and risk of major osteoporotic fractures in middle-aged women. The HUNT study. Osteoporos Int. Published 14 August 2026. doi:10.
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