Related Experiment Videos
Prolonged breast-feeding as prophylaxis for atopic disease
Insights
Prolonged breastfeeding for over six months significantly reduces severe atopic disease in infants, especially those with a family history of atopy. Formula feeding was associated with a higher incidence of atopic conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Allergy Research
Background:
- Atopic diseases, such as eczema and asthma, are common in early childhood.
- Infant feeding practices, including breastfeeding and formula feeding, are hypothesized to influence the development of atopy.
- Family history of atopy is a known risk factor for developing allergic conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the duration of breastfeeding and the incidence of severe atopic disease in the first three years of life.
- To determine if prolonged breastfeeding offers protection against atopy, particularly in genetically predisposed infants.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study followed 236 infants for their first three years.
- Infants were categorized into three groups based on feeding history: exclusively breast-fed (>6 months), partially breast-fed (2-6 months), and formula-fed (<2 months).
- All infants followed a standardized solid food intake pattern until one year of age.
Main Results:
- Prolonged breastfeeding (over 6 months) was associated with a significantly lower incidence of severe or obvious atopic disease compared to formula feeding.
- The protective effect of prolonged breastfeeding was particularly evident in infants with a documented family history of atopy.
- Partial breastfeeding (2-6 months) also showed a trend towards reduced atopy, though less pronounced than exclusive, prolonged breastfeeding.
Conclusions:
- Exclusive breastfeeding for more than six months appears to be a protective factor against the development of severe atopic disease in early childhood.
- Breastfeeding may mitigate the risk of atopy in infants with a genetic predisposition.
- These findings support recommendations for extended breastfeeding to potentially reduce the burden of allergic diseases.
Abstract:
54 babies who had been solely breast-fed for more than 6 months, 77 babies who had been breast-fed for 2--6 months, and 105 babies who had been weaned to cow's-milk-based formulas at less than 2 months were followed for the first 3 years of life. All the babies had the same pattern of solid food intake until 1 year of age. Compared with formula feeding, prolonged breast-feeding resulted in a lower incidence of severe or obvious atopic disease particularly in babies with family history of atopy.