PROSPECTIVE STUDIES OF THE EFFECT OF BREAST FEEDING ON INCIDENCE OF INFECTION AND ALLERGY

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Abstract
The effect of exclusive breast feeding in the first few weeks after birth on infant morbidity due to infectious and allergic disorders was investigated in 3 separate prospective studies. In a rural community in India, breast-fed infants had a significantly lower incidence of respiratory infection, otitis, diarrhea, dehydration and pneumonia. In an urban population in Canada, breast feeding was associated with a marked decrease in the occurrence of otitis and respiratory disease and to a lesser extent of diarrhea and dehydration. In newborn siblings of children with atopic disease exclusively breast-fed for a minimum of 6 wk, the incidence of eczema, recurrent wheezing, elevated serum Ig[immunoglobulin]E, IgE antibodies to cow''s milk, complement activation in vivo after milk challenge and hemagglutinating antibodies to .beta.-lactoglobulin was significantly lower compared with formula-fed matched group. These observations attest to the immunologic advantages of human milk.

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