Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
05:31

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Published on: August 7, 2017

Breast-feeding and atopic disease: a cohort study from childhood to middle age

Melanie Claire Matheson1, Bircan Erbas, Aindralal Balasuriya

  • 1Center for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic & Analytic Epidemiology, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. mcmat@unimelb.edu.au

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|September 4, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Exclusive breastfeeding may protect against early childhood asthma but increases the risk of allergic asthma and atopy later in life. This finding challenges long-term recommendations for high-risk infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Immunology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • The relationship between breastfeeding and atopic diseases is debated, with existing literature showing contradictory findings.
  • Understanding long-term effects of breastfeeding on atopy is crucial for public health recommendations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between exclusive breastfeeding and the development of atopic disorders.
  • To assess these associations in a cohort followed from childhood into middle age.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based prospective cohort study (Tasmanian Asthma Study) followed participants from age 7 to 44 years.
  • Exclusive breastfeeding in the first 3 months of life was analyzed as a risk factor for atopic diseases.
  • Statistical analyses included multiple logistic regression and generalized estimating equations.

Main Results:

  • At age 7, exclusive breastfeeding was associated with a marginally lower risk of asthma in children with a maternal history of atopy.
  • After age 7, exclusive breastfeeding was linked to an increased risk of asthma at ages 14, 32, and 44.
  • Exclusive breastfeeding reduced the risk of food allergy at age 7 but increased the risk of food allergy and allergic rhinitis at age 44.

Conclusions:

  • Exclusive breastfeeding offers protection against asthma before age 7 in infants with a maternal history of atopy.
  • The long-term benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for preventing allergic asthma and atopy require re-evaluation.
  • Current recommendations for breastfeeding high-risk infants for early wheezing illness are supported, but long-term protection against atopy needs reconsideration.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Effects of Exposure of Formaldehyde to a Rat Model of Atopic Dermatitis Induced by Neonatal Capsaicin Treatment06:47

Effects of Exposure of Formaldehyde to a Rat Model of Atopic Dermatitis Induced by Neonatal Capsaicin Treatment

Published on: September 27, 2017

Resolving Water, Proteins, and Lipids from In Vivo Confocal Raman Spectra of Stratum Corneum through a Chemometric Approach09:32

Resolving Water, Proteins, and Lipids from In Vivo Confocal Raman Spectra of Stratum Corneum through a Chemometric Approach

Published on: September 26, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Longitudinal Research02:20

Longitudinal Research

Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
Observational Studies01:11

Observational Studies

Observational studies are a type of analytical study where researchers observe events without any interventions. In other words, the researcher does not influence the response variable or the experiment's outcome.
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One example of...
Antiasthma Drugs: Mast Cell Stabilizers and Anti-IgE Drugs01:25

Antiasthma Drugs: Mast Cell Stabilizers and Anti-IgE Drugs

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition for which new therapeutic avenues, including anti-inflammatory drugs like mast cell stabilizers and anti-IgE treatments, continue to be developed.
Mast cell stabilizers, such as cromolyn (also known as sodium cromoglycate) and nedocromil (Tilade), are effective drugs in asthma management. These stabilizers hinder histamine release by skillfully obstructing the activation of mast cells and other cellular entities. Notably, they navigate this task without...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Asthma III: Clinical Manifestations01:13

Asthma III: Clinical Manifestations

Asthma presents with a characteristic pattern of episodic respiratory symptoms that reflect underlying airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and mucus hypersecretion. Although severity varies among individuals, certain clinical manifestations are considered hallmarks of the disorder and often guide diagnosis and assessment.Respiratory SymptomsA persistent cough is one of the most common early features of asthma. It is frequently dry and tends to worsen at night or in the early morning,...