Myths and facts about breastfeeding: Does it prevent later atopic disease?

Vandenplas, Yvan

doi:10.1016/s0271-5317(98)00116-x

Cited by 7 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 91 publications

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“…However, the large body of evidence has not succeeded in convincingly proving the protective effect of breast-feeding; the issue remains controversial today. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Nevertheless, the overall beneficial effect of breast-feeding on a child's health was never questioned, but the lingering discussion on the topic recently had a fresh revival by a reported increased risk of asthma and atopy in breast-fed New Zealanders born in the 1970s. 2 This prospective study not only failed to prove a protective effect, but even more controversial, posed the question whether breast-feeding might yet be a risk factor for the development of allergic diseases.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[4][5][6] Most previous reports on this issue have focused on finding protective effects of breast-feeding, 11 but Sears et al were not the first to report a possible increased risk 8,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18] of asthma 19,20 and allergies. 10,21 Just recently, two studies also found breast-feeding to be a risk factor for atopic eczema. 22,23 The general public in developed countries is well aware of the problem of increasing prevalence of allergies, so these recent adverse reports could have negative public health implications on infant feeding practices.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Effect of breast-feeding on the development of atopic dermatitis during the first 3 years of life—results from the GINI-birth cohort study

Laubereau¹,

Brockow²,

Zirngibl³

et al. 2004

The Journal of Pediatrics

140

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confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of breast-feeding on the development of atopic dermatitis during the first 3 years of life—results from the GINI-birth cohort study

Laubereau¹,

Brockow²,

Zirngibl³

et al. 2004

The Journal of Pediatrics

140

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“…Allergic mothers are commonly advised to breastfeed their babies in order to reduce the infants' risk of atopic disease. Literature reviews, however, show that the allergy preventing effect of breastfeeding has not been established beyond doubt (1, 2). Two recent papers by Wright et al.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Fatty acids in breast milk of allergic and non‐allergic mothers: The PIAMA birth cohort study

Wijga

Houwelingen

Smit

et al. 2003

Pediatric Allergy Immunology

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Fatty acid composition was studied in breast milk of allergic and non-allergic mothers, focusing in particular on concentrations of the n-6 and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturates (LCP) in relation to maternal allergy. Milk samples were obtained from 168 mothers with asthma or inhalant allergies and 107 mothers without asthma and inhalant allergies, between 2 and 35 weeks after delivery. Mean values of fatty acid concentration (weight% of total fatty acids) were estimated for individual fatty acids, for groups of fatty acids and for the metabolic index (the ratio between the sum of n-6 polyunsaturates and linoleic acid). For the most relevant fatty acids, the association with maternal allergy was subsequently analyzed in more detail using multiple regression analysis. The metabolic index in breast milk was significantly lower in the allergic than in the non-allergic mothers, but no significant differences were observed in the concentrations of any of the n-6 fatty acids. Also concentrations of the n-3 fatty acids and nearly all other fatty acids were similar in allergic and non-allergic mothers' breast milk. No differences in fatty acid concentrations were observed between mothers with asthma and mothers with single or with multiple inhalant allergies. Our data suggest that differences in fatty acid composition between breast milk of allergic and non-allergic mothers are small and are unlikely to be responsible for the differential effects of breastfeeding by allergic and non-allergic mothers that have been observed in some studies.

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“…In addition, the presence of other potentially immunomodulating factors (e.g., complex oligosaccharides, growth factors, enzymes, hormones, or cytokines) has been acknowledged (1–3). These beneficial properties together with the high availability of nutrients and the low antigen content of human milk are the physiologic basis of the current recommendation by pediatric nutritional committees that breast milk is the best food for infants, especially those with a family history of allergies (4–6).…”

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confidence: 99%