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Exclusive breastfeeding is associated with reduced cow's milk sensitization in early childhood

Sui-Ling Liao1, Shen-Hao Lai, Kuo-Wei Yeh

  • 1Community Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Keelung, Keelung, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Keelung, Keelung, Taiwan.

Pediatric Allergy and Immunology : Official Publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
|August 30, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months is linked to a lower risk of cow's milk protein sensitization in early childhood. This finding supports breastfeeding as a strategy to prevent early allergy development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Immunology
  • Allergy Research

Background:

  • Breastfeeding is associated with fewer infant infections, but its role in preventing allergic diseases remains unclear.
  • This study investigates exclusive breastfeeding's impact on allergy biomarkers in infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between exclusive breastfeeding duration and allergy biomarkers.
  • To assess changes in absolute eosinophil count, total IgE, and specific IgE levels over the first three years of life.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective birth cohort study (PATCH) involving population-based data.
  • Blood samples analyzed at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months.
  • Clinical records and questionnaires collected on breastfeeding and allergic diseases.

Main Results:

  • Exclusive breastfeeding ≥4 months significantly reduced cow's milk protein sensitization risk up to age 2 years (aOR 0.2).
  • A trend towards lower absolute eosinophil counts was observed in exclusively breastfed children.
  • Exclusively breastfed infants showed a trend of lower total IgE levels by age 3 years.

Conclusions:

  • Exclusive breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of cow's milk protein sensitization in early childhood.
  • Findings suggest breastfeeding may be a protective strategy against specific allergic sensitizations.
Abstract

Keywords:
IgEatopybreastfeedingcohort studycow's milk proteinsensitization

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