Does breastfeeding protect children from asthma? Analysis of NHANES III survey data.
We sought to determine whether breastfeeding (yes/no) or its duration protects against the development of childhood asthma, its severity or age of onset. We conducted a secondary analysis of youth files of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (1988-94), and reviewed data from 6,783 children age 2 months to 6 years (3,316 breastfed), excluding children with a history of low birth weight or treatment in a neonatal intensive care unit. Study participants were breastfed an average of 157 days. The average age at onset of asthma was 14.3 months. In the logistic regression model, "ever breast-fed" was not a significant protective factor for developing asthma. Significant predictive factors were the mother's age at child's birth (beta = -0.08, p < 0.01), and a parent having asthma or hayfever (beta = 0.46, p < 0.01). In the linear regression model, the duration of breastfeeding was not a predictor for age at onset of asthma (beta = 0.01, p = 0.53). Only maternal smoking during pregnancy was a significant predictor of age at onset of asthma (beta = -7.59, p < 0.01). Breastfeeding does not appear to prevent asthma, delay its onset, or reduce its severity. However, breastfeeding is still recommended for its many other benefits.
Rust
G S
GS
National Center for Primary Care, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30310, USA.
Thompson
C J
CJ
Minor
P
P
Davis-Mitchell
W
W
Holloway
K
K
Murray
V
V
D017677:Age Distribution; D017668:Age of Onset; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires