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Breastfeeding does not protect children against developing asthma or allergies
September 12, 2007Effect of prolonged and exclusive breastfeeding on risk of allergy and asthma: cluster randomized trial
Breastfeeding exclusively or for a prolonged period does not protect children against developing asthma and allergies, according to the results of a large randomised trial published on bmj.com today.
Whether breastfeeding protects against the development of allergies and asthma has been the subject of numerous studies and a topic of hot debate for the past 70 years. Yet research findings have been conflicting and all the evidence to date has been based on observational studies.
In this study researchers recruited 17,046 breastfeeding women attending 31 Belarussian maternity hospitals and one polyclinic affiliated with each maternity hospital during the late 1990s. They were split into two groups. In the experimental group breastfeeding was promoted and supported in the hospitals and polyclinics the women and children attended. In the control group the hospitals and clinics continued with their normal practices and policies. Within the experimental group there was a large increase in the number of women breastfeeding exclusively at three months. The women in this group also breastfed for longer.
13,889 children were followed up when they reached 6.5 years of age and tested to see if they showed any symptoms of asthma or allergies. This research was carried out between December 2002 and April 2005. A questionnaire was used to diagnose asthma, hay fever, and eczema. In addition skin prick tests were used to diagnose sensitivity to house dust mites, cats, birch pollen, mold, and mixed northern grasses.
The results indicate that increased breastfeeding did not reduce the risk of asthma, hayfever or eczema at 6.5 years of age despite large increases in the duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding. It also did not succeed in reducing the prevalence of positive skin prick tests.
The researchers conclude that public health measures to increase breastfeeding seem unlikely to have a major impact on reducing the level of hereditary conditions such as asthma or eczema within the population.
They say: "our results underline the importance of seeking other explanations for the recent epidemic of allergy and asthma."
BMJ-British Medical Journal
In this study researchers recruited 17,046 breastfeeding women attending 31 Belarussian maternity hospitals and one polyclinic affiliated with each maternity hospital during the late 1990s. They were split into two groups. In the experimental group breastfeeding was promoted and supported in the hospitals and polyclinics the women and children attended. In the control group the hospitals and clinics continued with their normal practices and policies. Within the experimental group there was a large increase in the number of women breastfeeding exclusively at three months. The women in this group also breastfed for longer.
13,889 children were followed up when they reached 6.5 years of age and tested to see if they showed any symptoms of asthma or allergies. This research was carried out between December 2002 and April 2005. A questionnaire was used to diagnose asthma, hay fever, and eczema. In addition skin prick tests were used to diagnose sensitivity to house dust mites, cats, birch pollen, mold, and mixed northern grasses.
The results indicate that increased breastfeeding did not reduce the risk of asthma, hayfever or eczema at 6.5 years of age despite large increases in the duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding. It also did not succeed in reducing the prevalence of positive skin prick tests.
The researchers conclude that public health measures to increase breastfeeding seem unlikely to have a major impact on reducing the level of hereditary conditions such as asthma or eczema within the population.
They say: "our results underline the importance of seeking other explanations for the recent epidemic of allergy and asthma."
BMJ-British Medical Journal
Breastfeeding News and Current Breastfeeding Events RSSHospitals provide formula sample packs while medical organizations encourage breastfeeding
A majority of U.S. hospitals on the East coast distribute formula sample packs to new mothers, contrary to recommendations from most major medical organizations concerned about the potential for distributing these packs to reduce breastfeeding rates.
Codeine not safe for all breastfeeding moms and their babies
Using pain treatments which contain codeine may be risky for some breastfeeding mothers, according to researchers at The University of Western Ontario, and the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto.
New research suggests diabetes transmitted from parents to children
A new study in the September issue of the Journal of Lipid Research suggests an unusual form of inheritance may have a role in the rising rate of diabetes, especially in children and young adults, in the United States.
New breastfeeding study shows most moms quit early
While the CDC recently reported that more moms than ever give breastfeeding a try, a new national study shows most moms do not stick with it as long as they should.
Men and women may need different diets: research
Diet can strongly influence how long you live and your reproductive success, but now scientists have discovered that what works for males can be very different for females.
Child care factors associated with weight gain in infancy
Nine-month-old infants regularly cared for by someone other than a parent appear to have higher rates of unfavorable feeding practices and to weigh more than infants cared for only by parents, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Heavy birthweight babies twice as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis
Heavy birthweight female babies are twice as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis in adulthood as their average birthweight peers, suggests research published ahead of print in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Findings offer insights into role of breastfeeding in preventing infant death, HIV infection
In many poor countries, mothers with HIV face a stark choice: to nurse their infants, and risk passing on HIV through their breast milk-or to formula feed, and deprive their infants of much of the natural immunity needed to protect against fatal diseases of early infancy.
Extended infant antiretroviral prophylaxis reduces HIV risk during breastfeeding
In many resource-poor countries, infants born to mothers with HIV receive a single dose of nevirapine (NVP) and a one-week dose of zidovudine (ZDV) to prevent transmission of HIV from the mother to her newborn.
Breastfeeding may improve children's intelligence scores
Long-term, exclusive breastfeeding appears to improve children's cognitive development, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
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