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Effects of feeding and social factors on diarrhoea and vomiting in infants
Insights
Breastfeeding up to six months significantly reduces infant diarrhea and vomiting. Supplementing breast milk with other milks or solids is safe, but breastfeeding protection wanes after six months.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Infant Nutrition
Background:
- Gastrointestinal infections like diarrhea and vomiting are common in infants.
- Feeding practices, including breastfeeding and formula feeding, are hypothesized to influence infant susceptibility to infections.
- Socioeconomic factors may also play a role in infant health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the incidence of diarrhea and/or vomiting in breastfed, bottle-fed, and mixed-fed infants.
- To investigate the protective effect of breastfeeding against gastrointestinal infections up to one year of age.
- To examine the influence of early solid food introduction and socioeconomic status on infant gastrointestinal health.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study conducted in South East Queensland, Australia.
- Infants were categorized by feeding type: breast milk only, bottle (formula) milk only, and mixed feeding.
- Data on feeding practices, introduction of solids, social class, and episodes of diarrhea and/or vomiting were collected from birth to 1 year.
Main Results:
- Infants up to 6 months receiving breast milk (with or without other milks) had lower rates of diarrhea and/or vomiting compared to exclusively bottle-fed infants.
- Breastfeeding appeared to offer protection against infections even when supplemented with other milks.
- No significant protective effect of breastfeeding against gastrointestinal infection was observed after 6 months.
- Early introduction of solids (before 3 months) was associated with less diarrhea and/or vomiting across social classes.
- Bottle-fed infants in upper social class families experienced fewer gastrointestinal problems than their lower social class counterparts between 3-6 months.
Conclusions:
- Breastfeeding provides significant protection against diarrhea and/or vomiting in infants up to 6 months of age in this population.
- Supplementation of breast milk with other milks and solids is safe and does not negate the early protective benefits.
- The protective effect of breastfeeding diminishes after 6 months, suggesting a need for continued monitoring and appropriate complementary feeding strategies.
- Early introduction of solids and higher socioeconomic status may be associated with reduced gastrointestinal issues in infants.
Abstract:
In a prospective study of infants and their feeding in south east Queensland, Australia, the incidences of reported diarrhoea and/or vomiting in breast, bottle, and mixed (breast and bottle) fed infants were compared from birth to 1 year. Up to 6 months infants who were given breast feeds, with or without other milks, had less diarrhoea and/or vomiting than those given bottle feeds only. Breast feeding seemed to protect the infant against possible introduced infections even when other milks were given along with the breast milk. After 6 months breast feeding did not reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal infection. In both upper and lower social class families infants given solids before 3 months had less diarrhoea and/or vomiting than those given solids later. Bottle fed infants aged 3-6 months in upper social class families had fewer gastrointestinal problems than those of lower social class families. This study suggests that up to the age of 6 months, in this population, breast feeding protects the infant against diarrhoea and/or vomiting, but other milks and solids can safely be given to supplement the breast milk. Breast feeding conferred no significant protection after 6 months.