Breast feeding and allergic diseases in infants-a prospective birth cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of breast feeding on allergic disease in infants up to 2 years of age.


METHODS
A birth cohort of 4089 infants was followed prospectively in Stockholm, Sweden. Information about various exposures was obtained by parental questionnaires when the infants were 2 months old, and about allergic symptoms and feeding at 1 and 2 years of age. Duration of exclusive and partial breast feeding was assessed separately. Symptom related definitions of various allergic diseases were used. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated in a multiple logistic regression model. Adjustments were made for potential confounders.


RESULTS
Children exclusively breast fed during four months or more exhibited less asthma (7.7% v 12%, OR(adj) = 0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 0.8), less atopic dermatitis (24% v 27%, OR(adj) = 0.8, 95% CI 0.7 to 1.0), and less suspected allergic rhinitis (6.5% v 9%, OR(adj) = 0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 1.0) by 2 years of age. There was a significant risk reduction for asthma related to partial breast feeding during six months or more (OR(adj) = 0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 0.9). Three or more of five possible allergic disorders-asthma, suspected allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, food allergy related symptoms, and suspected allergic respiratory symptoms after exposure to pets or pollen-were found in 6.5% of the children. Exclusive breast feeding prevented children from having multiple allergic disease (OR(adj) = 0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 0.9) during the first two years of life.


CONCLUSIONS
Exclusive breast feeding seems to have a preventive effect on the early development of allergic disease-that is, asthma, atopic dermatitis, and suspected allergic rhinitis, up to 2 years of age. This protective effect was also evident for multiple allergic disease.
Kull
I
I
Department of Environmental Health, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden.
Wickman
M
M
Lilja
G
G
Nordvall
S L
SL
Pershagen
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors