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Duration and exclusiveness of breastfeeding and childhood asthma-related symptoms

A M M Sonnenschein-van der Voort1, V W V Jaddoe, R J P van der Valk

  • 1The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

The European Respiratory Journal
|July 23, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Shorter or no breastfeeding increases risks of asthma symptoms in preschoolers. These risks are linked to infections, not allergies, suggesting a protective role for breastfeeding against respiratory illness.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
  • Epidemiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Asthma-related symptoms are a significant concern in preschool children.
  • Breastfeeding is hypothesized to influence immune development and respiratory health.
  • The underlying mechanisms, whether atopic or infectious, require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between breastfeeding duration and exclusivity and asthma-related symptoms in preschool children.
  • To determine if atopic or infectious pathways mediate these associations.
  • To provide evidence-based recommendations for infant feeding practices.

Main Methods:

  • Population-based prospective cohort study of 5,368 children.
  • Data collection via questionnaires on breastfeeding and asthma-related symptoms (wheezing, shortness of breath, cough, phlegm).
  • Statistical analyses including odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and adjusted models.

Main Results:

  • Never breastfed children showed increased risks for wheezing (OR 1.44), shortness of breath (OR 1.26), dry cough (OR 1.25), and persistent phlegm (OR 1.57) compared to those breastfed for 6 months.
  • Similar associations were found for exclusive breastfeeding.
  • Associations were partly explained by lower respiratory tract infections, not by eczema.

Conclusions:

  • Shorter duration and non-exclusive breastfeeding are associated with higher risks of asthma-related symptoms in preschoolers.
  • Infectious mechanisms, rather than atopic ones, appear to partly explain these associations.
  • Promoting breastfeeding may be a strategy to reduce respiratory symptom risks in early childhood.

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