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Breast feeding and allergic diseases in infants-a prospective birth cohort study
1Department of Environmental Health, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden.
Insights
Exclusive breastfeeding significantly reduces the risk of asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis in infants up to two years old. This protective effect extends to preventing multiple allergic diseases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Allergology
- Public Health
Background:
- Infant feeding practices are crucial for immune system development.
- Allergic diseases are a significant public health concern in early childhood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of breastfeeding duration and exclusivity on the incidence of allergic diseases in infants.
- To assess the preventive effect of breastfeeding on specific allergic conditions and multiple allergic disease development.
Main Methods:
- A prospective birth cohort study of 4089 infants in Stockholm, Sweden.
- Data collected via parental questionnaires on feeding and exposures at 2 months, and allergic symptoms at 1 and 2 years.
- Statistical analysis using multiple logistic regression with adjustments for confounders.
Main Results:
- Exclusive breastfeeding for 4+ months was associated with reduced asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis by age 2.
- Partial breastfeeding for 6+ months showed a significant risk reduction for asthma.
- Exclusive breastfeeding also protected against developing multiple allergic disorders.
Conclusions:
- Exclusive breastfeeding demonstrates a preventive effect on the early development of asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis.
- Breastfeeding, particularly exclusive breastfeeding, offers protection against multiple allergic diseases in the first two years of life.
Aims:
To investigate the effect of breast feeding on allergic disease in infants up to 2 years of age.
Methods:
A birth cohort of 4089 infants was followed prospectively in Stockholm, Sweden. Information about various exposures was obtained by parental questionnaires when the infants were 2 months old, and about allergic symptoms and feeding at 1 and 2 years of age. Duration of exclusive and partial breast feeding was assessed separately. Symptom related definitions of various allergic diseases were used. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated in a multiple logistic regression model. Adjustments were made for potential confounders.
Results:
Children exclusively breast fed during four months or more exhibited less asthma (7.7% v 12%, OR(adj) = 0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 0.8), less atopic dermatitis (24% v 27%, OR(adj) = 0.8, 95% CI 0.7 to 1.0), and less suspected allergic rhinitis (6.5% v 9%, OR(adj) = 0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 1.0) by 2 years of age. There was a significant risk reduction for asthma related to partial breast feeding during six months or more (OR(adj) = 0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 0.9). Three or more of five possible allergic disorders-asthma, suspected allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, food allergy related symptoms, and suspected allergic respiratory symptoms after exposure to pets or pollen-were found in 6.5% of the children. Exclusive breast feeding prevented children from having multiple allergic disease (OR(adj) = 0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 0.9) during the first two years of life.
Conclusion:
Exclusive breast feeding seems to have a preventive effect on the early development of allergic disease-that is, asthma, atopic dermatitis, and suspected allergic rhinitis, up to 2 years of age. This protective effect was also evident for multiple allergic disease.