Breastfeeding and allergic disease: a multidisciplinary review of the literature (1966-2001) on the mode of early feeding in infancy and its impact on later atopic manifestations (original) (raw)

Breastfeeding and Atopic Disease in Childhood: The Genesis Study

PEDIATRICS, 2008

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of asthma and atopic disease in childhood is increasing yearly. A protective connection between breastfeeding and development of atopy has been suggested in several studies. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to investigate the correlation between breastfeeding and atopy. METHODS: We screened 1525 children aged 2 to 5 years. Information on the outcome variables “ever wheezing,” “recurrent wheezing,” “diagnosed asthma,” “itchy rash,” “recurrent rash,” and “diagnosed atopic dermatitis” was obtained. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association of outcome variables with the independent variable (breastfeeding) after adjustment for gender and parental history of allergy. RESULTS: Median duration of exclusive breastfeeding was 1 month (range: 0–2 months). Children who were breastfed exclusively for >3 months had 28% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.53%–0.98%) and 29% (95% CI: 0.51%–1.00%) lower likelihood of ever developing wheezing and ...

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

Pediatric Allergy and Immunology

Background Although breastfed infants have consistently been reported as having fewer infections and respiratory morbidity during infancy, none have reached a definitive conclusion as to whether breastfeeding is an effective strategy to prevent allergic diseases. This study aims to investigate the relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and sequential changes of several biomarkers of allergy, such as absolute eosinophil count, total IgE level, and specific IgE level during the first 3 yrs of life.Methods This is an unselected, population-based study that is part of a prospective birth cohort called the PATCH (Prediction of Allergy in Taiwanese Children). Blood analysis was performed at ages 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months. Clinical records of breastfeeding and detailed questionnaires regarding to allergic diseases were also obtained.ResultsAnalysis comparing exclusive breastfeeding ≥4 months with those <4 months and those partially breastfed showed a decreased risk of sensitiza...