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The relationship of breast-feeding, overweight, and asthma in preadolescents

Xiao-Mei Mai1, Allan B Becker, Elizabeth A C Sellers

  • 1Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|June 26, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Short exclusive breast-feeding (less than 12 weeks) combined with childhood overweight is linked to asthma. Promoting longer breast-feeding may help prevent both conditions in susceptible children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Public Health and Epidemiology
  • Childhood Development

Background:

  • Breast-feeding duration is a potential environmental factor influencing childhood overweight and asthma.
  • Overweight and asthma may share common underlying environmental influences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between short exclusive breast-feeding duration and subsequent childhood overweight.
  • To evaluate if the combination of short exclusive breast-feeding and overweight is associated with asthma development.

Main Methods:

  • A nested case-control study involving 246 children diagnosed with asthma and 477 controls aged 8-10 years.
  • Exclusive breast-feeding data collected via questionnaires; overweight defined by BMI >/=85th percentile.
  • Logistic regression analysis adjusted for multiple covariates including parental asthma and socioeconomic factors.

Main Results:

  • Exclusive breast-feeding less than 12 weeks was strongly associated with overweight by age 8-10 years (P < .001).
  • The combination of short exclusive breast-feeding (<12 weeks) and overweight significantly increased asthma risk (adjusted OR, 1.81; P = .018).
  • This association was particularly pronounced in children with maternal asthma and in boys.

Conclusions:

  • Short exclusive breast-feeding duration and subsequent overweight are linked to asthma in susceptible children, suggesting a shared pathway.
  • Findings underscore the importance of promoting prolonged breast-feeding for the prevention of both childhood overweight and asthma.
Abstract

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