Breast-feeding and diarrheal morbidity.
This study used a unique longitudinal survey of more than 3000 mother-infant pairs observed from pregnancy through infancy. The sample is representative of infants from the Cebu region of the Philippines. The sequencing of breast-feeding and diarrheal morbidity events was carefully examined in a longitudinal analysis which allowed for the examination of age-specific effects of feeding patterns. Because the work controlled for a wide range of environmental causes of diarrhea, the results can be generalized to other populations with some confidence. The addition to the breast-milk diet of even water, teas, and other nonnutritive liquids doubled or tripled the likelihood of diarrhea. Supplementation of breast-feeding with additional nutritive foods or liquids further increased significantly the risk of diarrhea; most benefits of breast-feeding alone or in combination with nutritive foods/liquids became small during the second half of infancy. Benefits of breast-feeding were slightly greater in urban environments.
Popkin
B M
BM
Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27516.
Adair
L
L
Akin
J S
JS
Black
R
R
Briscoe
J
J
Flieger
W
W
D001942:Breast Feeding; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000209:etiology*; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population