Long-term relation between breastfeeding and development of atopy and asthma in children and young adults: a longitudinal study

Childhood allergic rhinitis predicts asthma incidence and persistence to middle age: A longitudinal study

“…However, the numbers in these subgroups were small. A New Zealand birth cohort study 36 found that HR, Hazard ratio. *The result is taken from the mutually adjusted model described in the text, with additional adjustment for socioeconomic status.…”

Breast-feeding and atopic disease: A cohort study from childhood to middle age

“…[7][8][9][10][11][12] We are the first to analyze data from early childhood well into middle age. Spanning this extensive period covers the current gap in understanding of the effect of breast-feeding on asthma risk.…”

“…12 In the United Kingdom 1970 birth cohort of more than 13,000 children, eczema and allergic rhinitis at 5 years were reported more often in children who had been breast-fed than those who had not. 9 Furthermore, the Tucson Children's Respiratory Study found breast-feeding was associated with lower rates of recurrent wheeze before the age of 6 years, but was a risk factor for asthma and recurrent wheeze between 6 and 13 years.…”

“…6 However, several prospective birth cohort studies have found breast-feeding to be a risk factor for asthma rather than a protective factor. [7][8][9][10][11][12] Although several studies have examined risk of asthma and atopy into early adolescence, 10,13,14 fewer have followed subjects into adulthood 12 and none into middle age. The differing duration of follow-up may explain the discrepancies between studies.…”

Vitamin C in breast milk may reduce the risk of atopy in the infant

“…Notwithstanding extensive research, promotion of breastfeeding remains the single most effective means in the attempt to reverse this trend (Gore & Custovic, 2004). Conflicting findings on the protective effects of breastfeeding (Gdalevich et al, 2001;Bergmann et al, 2002;Sears et al, 2002) may be explained by the wide individual variation in breast milk composition.…”