Breastfeeding and prevalence of allergic diseases in Japanese university students.
BACKGROUND
Although historical support exists for the concept that breastfeeding might be protective against allergic diseases, contradictory findings have been observed recently.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the cumulative prevalence of allergic diseases in Japanese university students and to identify explanatory variables including breastfeeding.


METHODS
From March 18, 2003, through March 29, 2005, a total of 9,615 students newly enrolled at the University of Tokyo responded to a written questionnaire on allergic diseases.


RESULTS
Cumulative prevalence of allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma was 47.2%, 17.4%, and 9.3%, respectively. These data were closely correlated, and prevalence of any 1 of the 3 diseases significantly increased the odds for historical prevalence of the other 2 (P < .001). Male sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-1.7) and maternal (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 2.0-2.5) or paternal (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.4-1.8) history of allergic rhinitis were significant correlates of increased odds for allergic rhinitis. Maternal (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.6-4.5), paternal (OR, 3.8; 95% CI, 2.2-6.6), or sibling (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.5-2.4) history of atopic dermatitis was a significant correlate of increased odds for atopic dermatitis. As for asthma, maternal (OR, 4.9; 95% CI, 3.0-7.9), paternal (OR, 4.0; 95% CI, 2.3-7.0), or sibling (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 2.4-4.5) history of asthma was a significant correlate of increased odds. Logistic regression analysis showed no consistent evidence of the effects of breastfeeding on the cumulative prevalence.


CONCLUSIONS
The cumulative prevalence of these diseases among young adults revealed that the effect of breastfeeding is negligible when compared with genetic factors.
Karino
Shotaro
S
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Health Service Centre, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. karinos-tky@umin.ac.jp
Okuda
Toshihiro
T
Uehara
Yoshio
Y
Toyo-oka
Teruhiko
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires