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Breastfeeding and allergy: the evidence
1Departments of Pediatrics and Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. michael.kramer@mcgill.ca
Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism
|December 23, 2011
Summary
Breastfeeding likely offers some protection against allergic diseases like asthma and eczema. Evidence from systematic reviews and a Belarusian study suggests a reduced risk of allergies in infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Public Health Nutrition
- Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases
Background:
- The relationship between breastfeeding and allergic disease development has been studied for over 75 years.
- Conflicting evidence exists regarding the protective effects of breastfeeding against various allergic conditions.
- Understanding this association is crucial for infant health and allergy prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize existing evidence on the association between infant feeding practices and allergic disease.
- To evaluate the risks of atopic dermatitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, positive allergen skin tests, and food allergy.
- To incorporate findings from a cluster-randomized breastfeeding promotion trial in Belarus.
Main Methods:
- Primarily relies on systematic reviews and meta-analyses of published literature.
- Includes long-term follow-up data from Belarusian children in a breastfeeding promotion intervention trial.
- Analyzes risks associated with different infant feeding patterns.
Main Results:
- The paper synthesizes evidence from multiple high-quality reviews.
- Findings from the Belarusian trial provide additional data on breastfeeding promotion impacts.
- Specific allergic outcomes examined include atopic dermatitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food allergies.
Conclusions:
- The evidence suggests a nuanced relationship between breastfeeding and allergic disease.
- Further research and robust data synthesis are essential for definitive conclusions.
- Findings support the importance of informed infant feeding choices for allergy prevention.
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