Breast-feeding duration and infant atopic manifestations, by maternal allergic status, in the first 2 years of life (KOALA study).
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the potential effect of modification by maternal allergic status on the relationship between breast-feeding duration and infant atopic manifestations in the first 2 years of life.


METHODS
Data from 2705 infants of the KOALA Birth Cohort Study (The Netherlands) were analyzed. The data were collected by repeated questionnaires at 34 weeks of gestation and 3, 7, 12, and 24 months postpartum. Total and specific immunoglobulin E measurements were performed on venous blood samples collected during home visits at age 2 years. Relationships were analyzed using logistic regression analyses.


RESULTS
Longer duration of breast-feeding was associated with a lower risk for eczema in infants of mothers without allergy or asthma (P(trend) = .01) and slightly lower risk in those of mothers with allergy but no asthma (P(trend) = .14). There was no such association for asthmatic mothers (P(trend) = .87). Longer breast-feeding duration decreased the risk of recurrent wheeze independent of maternal allergy (P(trend) = .02) or asthma status (P(trend) = .06).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings show that the relationship between breast-feeding and infant eczema in the first 2 years of life is modified by maternal allergic status. The protective effect of breast-feeding on recurrent wheeze may be associated with protection against respiratory infections.
Snijders
Bianca E P
BE
Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. BEP.Snijders@EPID.unimaas.nl
Thijs
Carel
C
Dagnelie
Pieter C
PC
Stelma
Foekje F
FF
Mommers
Monique
M
Kummeling
Ischa
I
Penders
John
J
van Ree
Ronald
R
van den Brandt
Piet A
PA
D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000276:immunology; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors
D007073:Immunoglobulin E