Longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding associated with reduced risk of childhood asthma up to age six
- Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Center for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Correspondence to Wendy Hazel Oddy
, Telethon Institute for Child, Health Research, Center for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Population Sciences, P.O. Box 855, West Perth, Perth, Western Australia 6872, Australia; wendyo{at}ichr.uwa.edu.au
Commentary on:
Implications for practice and research
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Breastfeeding is protective against asthma throughout the early years of childhood.
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Exclusive breastfeeding for 3 months or longer was associated with reduced asthma up to 6 years, particularly in atopic children.
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Future studies should collect prospective breastfeeding data as continuous variables in months or weeks that will allow for exploratory analysis in the relationship with asthma and atopy later in childhood.
Context
Breastfeeding is recommended for all infants irrespective of atopic heredity, although epidemiological studies provide …
