title: Effect of suboptimal breast-feeding on occurrence of autism: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between suboptimal breast-feeding practices and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was conducted in 102 ASD cases and 102 matched healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on adjusted odds ratios from logistic regression models, ASD was found to be associated with the late initiation of breast-feeding (odds ratio 1.48, 95% confidence interval 1.01-3.1), a non-intake of colostrum (odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.03-4.3), prelacteal feeding, and bottle-feeding. The risk of ASD was found to decrease in a dose-response fashion over increasing periods of exclusive breast-feeding (P for trend = 0.04) and continued breast-feeding (P for trend = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study indicates that increased ASD risk is generally associated with suboptimal breast-feeding practices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khoudh, Sultanate of Oman. ymfarsi@squ.edu.om
authors.forename: Yahya M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Al-Farsi
authors.forename: Marwan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Al-Sharbati
authors.forename: Mostafa I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Waly
authors.forename: Omar A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Al-Farsi
authors.forename: Mohammed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Al-Shafaee
authors.forename: Maha M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Al-Khaduri
authors.forename: Malav S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Deth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000208:ethnology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D002662:Child Health Services; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003126:Colostrum; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009850:Oman / Q000453:epidemiology; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires