Prolonged breast-feeding as prophylaxis for atopic disease

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.