Breastfeeding and risk of childhood CNS tumours

Harding, Nicholas J.; Birch, Jillian M; Hepworth, Sarah; McKinney, Patricia A.

doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6603638

Cited by 15 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Two further studies have also suggested that maternal infection during pregnancy increases the likelihood of the child developing a CNS tumor [10,11]. Further measures of immunity during early life such as breastfeeding [12] and atopic dysfunction [13] have also been investigated as possible moderating factors in CNS tumor development.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Infectious exposure in the first year of life and risk of central nervous system tumors in children: analysis of day care, social contact, and overcrowding

Harding

Birch

Hepworth

et al. 2008

Cancer Causes Control

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Little is known regarding the aetiology of central nervous system tumors in children. Recent studies have speculated on a potential infectious aetiology, but no clear associations have been found. This article uses parent reported questionnaire data from the UK Childhood Cancer Study (UKCCS), a population-based case-control study, to examine the relationship between the infectious exposure in the first year of life and the likelihood of developing a CNS tumor. The variables representing infectious exposure were social contact (including social contact with other infants and attendance at informal and formal day care), sharing a bedroom with another child, birth order, and exposure to a school-age child within the home. Children reported to have had no social contact with other infants in the first year of life displayed an increased risk of developing a CNS tumor when compared to those who had (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.08-1.75). This effect was most prominent in the primitive neuroectodermal tumor/medulloblastoma subgroup (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.12-2.83). Those who had attended informal (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.68-1.09) or formal day care (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.68-1.26) showed slightly non-statistically significant reduced risks when compared to those reporting social contact only. No association with any of the other variables was observed. Overall, the inconsistent findings by variable and tumor subtype suggest that an early exposure to infections is not strongly implicated in the aetiology of CNS tumors. However, the effect for social contact outside the home, particularly for PNET/medulloblastomas warrants further investigation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Infectious exposure in the first year of life and risk of central nervous system tumors in children: analysis of day care, social contact, and overcrowding

Harding

Birch

Hepworth

et al. 2008

Cancer Causes Control

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“…[108][109][110][111][112] The potential beneficial effects of breastfeeding on preventing offspring cancer are less clear with one study indicating this practice diminishes the incidence of brain, germ cell, bone, retinoblastoma and hepatic tumors, 109 whereas, two other studies found no evidence that breastfeeding decreases the incidence of childhood central nervous system tumors. 110,113 Offspring neurobehavioral development A cohort study with 1267 Chinese children found that those who were breastfed and whose mothers actively engaged with them demonstrate a reduced risk for later internalizing problems. 114 A Copenhagen perinatal cohort suggests that breastfeeding may provide some protective affects against later development of offspring schizophrenia.…”

Section: Offspring Cancermentioning

confidence: 99%

Homage to the ‘H’ in developmental origins of health and disease

Rosenfeld

2016

J Dev Orig Health Dis

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Abundant evidence exists linking maternal and paternal environments from pericopconception through the postnatal period to later risk to offspring diseases. This concept was first articulated by the late Sir David Barker and as such coined the Barker Hypothesis. The term was then mutated to Fetal Origins of Adult Disease and finally broadened to developmental origins of adult health and disease (DOHaD) in recognition that the perinatal environment can shape both health and disease in resulting offspring. Developmental exposure to various factors, including stress, obesity, caloric-rich diets and environmental chemicals can lead to detrimental offspring health outcomes. However, less attention has been paid to date on measures that parents can take to promote the long-term health of their offspring. In essence, have we neglected to consider the ‘H’ in DOHaD? It is the ‘H’ component that should be of primary concern to expecting mothers and fathers and those seeking to have children. While it may not be possible to eliminate exposure to all pernicious factors, prevention/remediation strategies may tip the scale to health rather than disease. By understanding disruptive DOHaD mechanisms, it may also illuminate behavioral modifications that parents can adapt before fertilization and throughout the neonatal period to promote the lifelong health of their male and female offspring. Three possibilities will be explored in the current review: parental exercise, probiotic supplementation and breastfeeding in the case of mothers. The ‘H’ paradigm should be the focus going forward as a healthy start can indeed last a lifetime.

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“…For CBT, there is little evidence that breastfeeding plays a protective role, with six studies finding no association (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15) and only one finding an inverse association (16). Another recent study found a protective association between breastfeeding and the risk of childhood cancer [odds ratio (OR) for 6 mo or more 0.5, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.2-0.9) but did not separate cancer types (17).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Schraw and colleagues found that longer duration of formula feeding and delayed introduction to solid foods was associated with an increased risk of ALL (19). For CBT, one study reported a protective association with fruit consumption in the first year of life (20), and 2 other studies reported no associations with either food or vitamin intake in the first year of life (21) or the age at which solid foods were introduced (11).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Breastfeeding and Nutrition to 2 Years of Age and Risk of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Brain Tumors

Greenop

Bailey

Miller

et al. 2015

Nutrition and Cancer

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Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and childhood brain tumors (CBT) are 2 of the most common forms of childhood cancer, but little is known of their etiology. In 2 nationwide case-control studies we investigated whether breastfeeding, age of food introduction, or early diet are associated with the risk of these cancers. Cases aged 0-14 years were identified from Australian pediatric oncology units between 2003 and 2007 (ALL) and 2005 and 2010 (CBT) and population-based controls through nationwide random-digit dialing. Mothers completed questionnaires giving details of infant feeding up to the age of 2 yr. Data from 322 ALL cases, 679 ALL controls, 299 CBT cases, and 733 CBT controls were analysed using unconditional logistic regression. Breastfeeding was associated with a reduced risk of ALL [odds ratio (OR) = 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.32, 0.84), regardless of duration. Introduction of artificial formula within 14 days of birth was positively associated with ALL (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.37), as was exclusive formula feeding to 6 mo (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.07, 3.05). No associations were seen between breastfeeding or formula use and risk of CBT. Our results suggest that breastfeeding and delayed introduction of artificial formula may reduce the risk of ALL but not CBT.

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Breastfeeding and risk of childhood CNS tumours

Cited by 15 publications

References 19 publications

Infectious exposure in the first year of life and risk of central nervous system tumors in children: analysis of day care, social contact, and overcrowding

Infectious exposure in the first year of life and risk of central nervous system tumors in children: analysis of day care, social contact, and overcrowding

Homage to the ‘H’ in developmental origins of health and disease

Breastfeeding and Nutrition to 2 Years of Age and Risk of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Brain Tumors

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