Abstract
The relation of infant feeding to childhood asthma is controversial. This study tested the hypothesis that maternal asthma alters the relation of breastfeeding to childhood asthma. Questionnaires were completed at age 6, 9 or 11 years by parents of 1043 children enrolled at birth. Active MD asthma was defined as a physician diagnosis of asthma plus asthma symptoms reported on one of the questionnaires. Duration of exclusive breastfeeding, categorized as never, <4 months, or≥_4 months, was based on prospective physician reports or questionnaires completed at 18 months. The relationship between breastfeeding and asthma differed by maternal asthma status. For children with maternal asthma, the percent developing active MD asthma increased significantly with longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Odds of developing asthma among these children were significantly elevated (OR: 5.7,CI; 2.8–11.5), after adjusting for confounders. This association of longer exclusive breastfeeding with increased risk of reported asthma among children with asthmatic mothers may be biologically based, or may reflect reporting biases.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Wright A.L., Holberg C.J., Martinez F.D., et al. 1989. Breastfeeding and lower respiratory tract illness in the first year of life. Br Med J; 229:946–949.
Howie P.W., Forsyth J.S., Ogston S.A., et al. 1990. Protective effect of breastfeeding against infection. Br Med J; 300:11–16.
Wright A.L., Holberg C.J., Taussig L.M., et al. 1995. Relationship of infant feeding to recurrent wheezing at age six. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med; 149:758–763.
Arita M., Mikawa H., Shirataka M., et al. 1997. Epidemiological research on incidence of atopic disease in infants and children in relation to their nutrition in infancy; English abstract. Arerugi-Japanese Journal AIlergoIogy; 46:354–69.
Wjst M., Dold S., Reitmeier P., et al. 1992. Does breast feeding prevent asthma and allergies? Results of the Munich asthma and allergy study. Monatsschrift Kinderheilkunde; 140:769–74.
Lewis S., Butland B., Strachan D., et al. 1996. Study of the aetiology of wheezing illnesses at age 16 in two national British birth cohorts. Thorax; 51:670–676.
Taussig L.M., Wright A.L., Harrison H.R., et al. 1989. The Tucson Children’s Respiratory Study (I): Design and implementation of a prospective study of acute and chronic respiratory illness in children. Am J Epidemiol; 129:1219–1231.
Rosner, B. 1994. Fundamentals of biostatistics. 4th ed. Duxbury Press, Boston.
Kramer, M.S. 1988. Does breast feeding help protect against atopic disease? Biology, methodology and a golden jubilee of controversy. J Pediatr; 112:181–90
Holberg C.J., Wright A.L., Martinez F.D., et al. 1991. Risk factors for respiratory syncytial virus associated LRIs in the first year of life. Amer J Epidemiol; 133:1135–1151.
Gruskay, F.L. 1982. Comparison of breast, cow and soy feeding in the prevention of onset of allergic disease:a 15-year prospective study. Clin Pediatr 1982;21:486–491.
Wright A.L., Holberg C.J., Halonen M., et al. 1999. Breastfeeding, maternal IgE and total serum IgE in childhood. JAllergy Clin Immunol: 104: 589–94.
Duchen K., Yu G., Bjorksten B. 1998. Atopic sensitization during the first year of life in relation to long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in human milk. Pediatr Res; 44:478–484.
Allardyce R.A., Wilson A. 1984. Breast milk cell supernatants from atopic donors stimulate corb blood IgE secretion in vitro. Clin AIlergy; 14:259–267.
Martinez F.D. 1994. Role of viral infections in the inception of asthma and allergies during childhood: could they be protective? Thorax; 49:1189–91.
Cunningham AS., Jelliffe D.B., Jelliffe E.F.P. 1991. Breastfeeding and health in the 1980s: A global epidemiologic review. Pediatr; 118:659–666.
Yoshioka H., Iseki K., Fujita K. 1983. Development and differences of intestinal flora in the neonatal period in breast-fed and bottle-fed infants. Pediatr; 72:317–321.
Holt PG, Sly PD, Bjorksten B. Atopic versus infectious diseases in childhood: a question of balance? Pediatr Allergy Immunol 1997; 8:53–58.
American Academy of Pediatrics Work Group on Breastfeeding. 1997. Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatr; 100:1035–1039.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Wright, A.L., Holberg, C.J., Taussig, L.M., Martinez, F. (2002). Material Asthma Status Alters Relation of Infant Feeding to Asthma Childhood. In: Koletzko, B., Michaelsen, K.F., Hernell, O. (eds) Short and Long Term Effects of Breast Feeding on Child Health. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 478. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-46830-1_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-46830-1_11
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-306-46405-8
Online ISBN: 978-0-306-46830-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive