title: Breastfeeding protects against current asthma up to 6 years of age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of breastfeeding on wheezing and current asthma in children 2 to 6 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infants (n=1105) were enrolled in a prospective birth cohort in New Zealand. Detailed information about infant feeding was collected using questionnaires administered at birth and at 3, 6, and 15 months. From this, durations of exclusive and any breastfeeding were calculated. Information about wheezing and current asthma was collected at 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 years. Logistic regression was used to model associations between breastfeeding and outcomes with and without adjustment for confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for confounders, each month of exclusive breastfeeding was associated with significant reductions in current asthma from 2 to 6 years (all, P<.03). Current asthma at 2, 3, and 4 years was also reduced by each month of any breastfeeding (all, P<.005). In atopic children, exclusive breastfeeding for ≥ 3 months reduced current asthma at ages 4, 5, and 6 by 62%, 55%, and 59%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breastfeeding, particularly exclusive breastfeeding, protects against current asthma up to 6 years. Although exclusive breastfeeding reduced risk of current asthma in all children to age 6, the degree of protection beyond 3 years was more pronounced in atopic children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand. karen.silvers@xtra.co.nz
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Silvers
authors.forename: Chris M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Frampton
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wickens
authors.forename: Philip K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Pattemore
authors.forename: Tristram
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ingham
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fishwick
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crane
authors.forename: G Ian
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Town
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Epton
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors