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Breastfeeding and the risk of respiratory tract infections after infancy: The Generation R Study

Ilse Tromp1,2, Jessica Kiefte-de Jong2,3,4, Hein Raat5

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

Plos One
|February 24, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Breastfeeding for six months or longer significantly reduces the risk of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in children up to four years old. This supports recommendations for extended breastfeeding duration for continued protection against respiratory illnesses.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health Nutrition

Background:

  • Breastfeeding is widely recognized for protecting infants against respiratory infections.
  • However, limited research has explored the impact of breastfeeding on respiratory tract infections beyond infancy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between breastfeeding duration and dose with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) and upper respiratory tract infections (URTI).
  • The study focused on children up to four years of age.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cohort study (The Generation R study) involving 5322 participants.
  • Breastfeeding data (duration and dose) collected via questionnaires at 2, 6, and 12 months.
  • LRTI and URTI data collected via doctor attendance reports at 2, 3, and 4 years.

Main Results:

  • Breastfeeding for ≥6 months was significantly associated with a reduced risk of LRTI up to age 4 (aOR: 0.71).
  • Similar protective effects for LRTI were observed for shorter breastfeeding durations (<3 months and 3-6 months).
  • Weaker associations were found for URTI, and a similar trend was observed for partial and predominant breastfeeding doses.

Conclusions:

  • Extended breastfeeding duration (≥6 months) is linked to a lower risk of LRTI in preschool-aged children.
  • These findings suggest that the protective benefits of breastfeeding against respiratory infections extend beyond infancy.
  • The results support current public health recommendations for breastfeeding for at least six months.
Abstract

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