Full breastfeeding and paediatric cancer.
OBJECTIVE
It has been suggested that there is an inverse association between breastfeeding and the risk of childhood cancer. We investigated the association between full breastfeeding and paediatric cancer (PC) in a case control study in Spain.


METHODS
Maternal reports of full breastfeeding, collected through personal interviews using the Paediatric Environmental History, were compared among 187 children 6 months of age or older who had PC and 187 age-matched control siblings.


RESULTS
The mean duration of full breastfeeding for cases were 8.43 and 11.25 weeks for controls. Cases had been significantly more often bottle-fed than controls (odds ratio (OR) 1.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-2.8). Cases were significantly less breastfed for at least 2 months (OR 0.5; 95% CI 0.3-0.8), for at least 4 months (OR 0.5; 95% CI 0.3-0.8), and for 24 weeks or more (OR 0.5; 95% CI 0.2-0.9).


CONCLUSIONS
Breastfeeding was inversely associated with PC, the protection increasing with the duration of full breastfeeding. Additional research on possible mechanisms of this association may be warranted. Meanwhile, breastfeeding should be encouraged among mothers.
Ortega-García
Juan A
JA
Paediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Translational Cancer Research Center, University Hospital Virgin of Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain. ortega@pehsu.org
Ferrís-Tortajada
Josep
J
Torres-Cantero
Alberto M
AM
Soldin
Offie P
OP
Torres
Encarna Pastor
EP
Fuster-Soler
Jose L
JL
Lopez-Ibor
Blanca
B
Madero-López
Luis
L
D000293:Adolescent; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors