-
-
-
On Newsstands Now!
Check out the May 2012 issue: raw stories, shocking confessions, candid advice about motherhood—and more!
-
Family Health: Breastfeeding Does Not Prevent Eczema, Study Finds
August 30th, 2011
Photography by amrufm, via Flickr (CC)
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “breast milk is the ideal food for newborns and infants. It is safe and contains antibodies that help protect infants from common childhood illnesses—such as diarrhea and pneumonia, the two primary causes of child mortality worldwide.” While the benefits of breastfeeding have been well documented, a new study, published in the British Journal of Dermatology, is challenging the notion that exclusive breastfeeding can prevent one health condition in particular: childhood eczema.
Researchers from King’s College London, the University of Nottingham and the University of Ulm, Germany, analyzed data from more than 51,000 children age eight to 21. “Although there was a protective effect of ever having been breastfed on more severe disease, we found no evidence that exclusive breastfeeding for four months or longer protects against eczema,” they concluded.
However, the study’s lead author, Dr. Carsten Flohr of King’s College London, was quick to stress that the study is not intended to detract from any other health claims surrounding breastfeeding. “‘It is widely accepted that breast milk is the most important and appropriate nutrition in early life,” said Dr. Flohr, in a news release. “Especially in the context of developing countries it is also important to keep in mind that exclusive breastfeeding reduces the risk of gastrointestinal infections compared to mixed or bottle feeding. Our study does not change this notion.”
For more information about breastfeeding and when to introduce your babe to solid foods, check out our feeding section. Dealing with eczema? You’ll find some great tips in our guide to curbing common baby skin conditions.
Did protecting against eczema influence your decision to continue breastfeeding? Will this new information change your opinion about when to wean?
Copyright © 2012 St. Joseph Media. All Rights Reserved.