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Breastfeeding anti-allergy theory 'flawed' (January 02, 2008)

Source: The Telegraph

Breastfeeding anti-allergy theory 'flawed'

By Sarah Womack, Social Affairs Correspondent
Last Updated: 2:25am BST Ê12/09/2007

Breastfeeding does not protect children against asthma and allergies such as eczema or hay fever, according to a major new study.

Research among more than 17,000 women shows Government measures to increase breastfeeding are unlikely to have a major impact on reducing such conditions as children grow up, say experts.

The seven-year study, led by a team from Montreal Children's Hospital, overturns previous theories - still promoted by the Government - that infants breastfed exclusively at the start of life are significantly protected from these illnesses.

The results indicated that large increases in the duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding did not reduce the risk of asthma, hay fever or eczema at 6.5 years.

Those behind the new study, published today on the British Medical Journal's website, say their work shows the importance of "investigating other causes" for recent upsurges in diseases like asthma.

Dr Michael Kramer, of Montreal Children's Hospital, said governments should reassess the advice they give on breastfeeding's "protective abilities", while stressing that it is still important in terms of children's healthy brain development ability to fight infection.

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