Breast feeding does not reduce the risk of developing childhood Asthma, even though it is rich in nutrients, according to new research. This research was conducted on the 17,046 breast feeding women over 15 year duration. This study was published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). This is the first ever randomized trial on the protective aspects of Breast feeding.
When the children of these women reached the age of six and a half, they were tested for any symptoms of asthma and their parents were asked to detail any symptoms of wheezing, chest tightness, hay fever and eczema. In fact, children whose mothers were in the group urged to continue to breastfeed their children exclusively were more likely to test positive later for five common allergies – dust mites, cat dander, birch and grass pollens and fungi.
In addition, the children were given allergy pricks to test for any response to house dust mites, cats, birch pollen, mould and grass pollen.
There was no difference between the groups on the questions of asthma, hay fever or eczema – and the results from the allergy pricks showed that in the “pro-breastfeeding” group, the youngsters were more sensitive to dust mites and grass pollen than their counterparts.
In 2002, a smaller study, conducted among 1,037 New Zealand infants, found that babies who had been breastfed for more than four weeks rank almost double the risk of contracting asthma and allergies in their childhood compared with counterparts who had been fed on infant formula.
It is foolish not to breast feed just basing on this study. But this study raised few questions which need to be answered by more extensive studies.
