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Pediatrics

Breastfeeding

NEWS:

Breastfeeding does not protect children against developing asthma or allergies "Whether breastfeeding protects against the development of allergies and asthma has been the subject of numerous studies and a topic of hot debate for the past 70 years. Yet research findings have been conflicting and all the evidence to date has been based on observational studies. … The researchers conclude that public health measures to increase breastfeeding seem unlikely to have a major impact on reducing the level of hereditary conditions such as asthma or eczema within the population."

Breastfeeding offers broad breast cancer protection "Breastfeeding may offer broad protection against breast cancer that extends to women who delay having children, according to a study released on Monday. Previous studies have shown that giving birth before age 25 and having many children protects against certain types of breast cancers, while delayed childbirth is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. The most important finding of the new study is that breastfeeding seems to lower the risk of developing breast cancer that comes from having children later in life, said Dr. Giske Ursin, associate professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California medical school and the study's lead author. "

Breast-Feeding by Mothers With Asthma Reduces Lung Function in Children

Breast-Feeding Confers Long-Term Heart Benefits " "Having been breast-fed in infancy is associated with a lower average body-mass index (BMI) and a higher average HDL (high-density lipoprotein, or "good" cholesterol) level in adulthood, even after accounting for personal and maternal demographic and CVD risk factors that could influence the results …" "

Breast-Feeding Cuts Food Allergy Risk "Breast-feeding in the first three months of life appears to help shield children from developing food allergies."

Breast-feeding enhances kids' eyesight "Breast-fed children are significantly more likely to do well in measures of stereoscopic vision than are those who received formula during infancy, according to UK researchers."

Breast-feeding moms may need more calcium "Women who breast-feed may need to be careful about getting enough calcium to keep their teeth and gums healthy, new animal research suggests. In experiments with rats, researchers found that lactating rodents were particularly susceptible to the effects of low calcium intake on the bones that support the teeth. Such bone-density loss can speed the progression of any existing gum disease."

Commonly Found Contaminant May Harm Nursing Infants " … perchlorate--an industrial pollutant linked to thyroid ailments--is actively concentrated in breast milk. Their findings suggest that perchlorate contamination of drinking water may pose a greater health risk than previously realized."

Diabetic moms' babies may have weak sucking reflex "Immature sucking patterns are often seen in infants whose mothers developed diabetes during pregnancy and had to be treated with insulin, new research indicates. On the other hand, babies of mothers with diabetes that was managed with a careful diet do not seem to have impaired sucking reflexes."

FDA Warns Nursing Mothers of Possible Codeine Risk "The Food and Drug Administration yesterday warned nursing mothers who are taking the painkiller codeine to be vigilant for unusual drowsiness or other signs of overdose in their babies, because a significant fraction of women carry a gene that leads to high concentrations of narcotic substances in their breast milk. The warning is not meant to discourage women who are prescribed codeine from breast-feeding. But it should spur them to contact their doctors if they or their babies seem overly sleepy while taking usual doses of the painkiller, an agency official said."

Full Breast-feeding May Lower Hospitalizations for Infections During First Year of Life "Full breast-feeding reduces the rate of hospital admissions for infections in the infant by one half during the first year of life, according to the results of a study reported in the July issue of Pediatrics."

Industry pressure waters down breast-feed ads: Under pressure from infant formula lobby, appointees dilute campaign "Plans to run these blunt ads infuriated the politically powerful infant formula industry, which hired a former chairman of the Republican National Committee and a former top regulatory official to lobby the Health and Human Services Department. Not long afterward, department political appointees toned down the campaign."

Lactation Improves Maternal Metabolic Profile

More Moms Breastfeeding, But Not for Very Long

Nicotine in Breast Milk Shortens Baby's Naptime

Organic Foods Make Mom's Breast Milk Better "A new study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, showed that organic dairy and meat products in a mother's diet positively affect the nutritional quality of her breast milk-markedly increasing beneficial fatty acids. Specifically, a diet in which 90% or more of dairy and meat products are organic is correlated with measurably higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). CLA is a type of fat that is believed to have anti-carcinogenic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-diabetic and immune-enhancing effects, as well as a favorable influence on body fat composition. For newborns specifically, CLA is believed to especially aid immune system development."

The White House vs. mother's milk "What science the Bush administration chooses to stifle or promote seems to be a matter of politics and economics. According to a recent story in the Washington Post, the multibillion-dollar baby formula industry pressured the Department of Health and Human Services to weaken a 2004 public-service campaign promoting breast-feeding -- and it worked, even though the science supported the other side. Numerous studies suggest that breast milk protects infants from developing certain illnesses and that formula-feeding increases their health risks. The ad campaign was designed to drive home that point. Now the health of millions of infants is at risk because mothers don't have the scientific knowledge the ads would have conveyed to make an informed choice between breast- or formula-feeding."

ARTICLES:

Breast Pumps

JOURNAL ARTICLES:

Advances in our understanding of the biology of human milk and its effects on the offspring. (J Nutr. 2007) "The most important short-term immunological benefit of breast-feeding is the protection against infectious diseases. There is also some evidence of lower prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases, childhood cancers, and type I diabetes in breast-fed infants, suggesting that breast-feeding influences the development of the infant's own immune system. One of the most consistent findings of breast-feeding is a positive effect on later intelligence tests with a few test points advantage for breast-fed infants."

Antiretrovirals for reducing the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection. (Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007) " In breastfeeding populations, three trials found that:A single dose of NVP given to mothers at the onset of labour plus a single dose of NVP given to their babies immediately after birth ('HIVNET 012 regimen') compared with ZDV given to mothers during labour and to their babies for a week after birth resulted in lower HIV infection rates at 4-8 weeks ."

Association of Maternal Obesity Before Conception with Poor Lactation Performance. (Annu Rev Nutr. 2007) "In women, there is a negative association between maternal obesity and the initiation as well as the continuation of breastfeeding."

Breastfeeding and childhood asthma: a six-year population-based cohort study (BMC Pediatrics 2007) "There was a U-shaped relation between breastfeeding and the outcomes with the lowest risk with breastfeeding from four to nine months for asthma and seven to nine months for persistent wheezing, cough and phlegm."

Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding of Children up to 2 Years of Age. (Nestle Nutr Workshop Ser Pediatr Program. 2007) "The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age and continued breastfeeding for at least 2 years, along with the timely introduction of adequate amounts of complementary foods of suitable nutritional and microbiological quality. The amounts of energy and micronutrients required from complementary foods have been estimated as the difference between the total physiological requirements of these food components and the amounts transferred to the child in breast milk."

Breastfeeding and maternal and infant health outcomes in developed countries. (Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep). 2007) "We found that a history of breastfeeding was associated with a reduction in the risk of acute otitis media, non-specific gastroenteritis, severe lower respiratory tract infections, atopic dermatitis, asthma (young children), obesity, type 1 and 2 diabetes, childhood leukemia, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and necrotizing enterocolitis. There was no relationship between breastfeeding in term infants and cognitive performance. The relationship between breastfeeding and cardiovascular diseases was unclear. Similarly, it was also unclear concerning the relationship between breastfeeding and infant mortality in developed countries. For maternal outcomes, a history of lactation was associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, breast, and ovarian cancer. Early cessation of breastfeeding or not breastfeeding was associated with an increased risk of maternal postpartum depression."

Breastfeeding and risk of ovarian cancer in two prospective cohorts. (Cancer Causes Control. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: These data support a linear inverse association between breastfeeding and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer."

[Breastfeeding in Premature Infants.] (Z Geburtshilfe Neonatol. 2007)

Breastfeeding trends and updated national health objectives for exclusive breastfeeding--United States, birth years 2000-2004. (MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2007) "Breastfeeding is associated with decreased risk for many early-life diseases and conditions, including otitis media, respiratory tract infections, atopic dermatitis, gastroenteritis, type 2 diabetes, sudden infant death syndrome, and obesity (1). Breastfeeding also is associated with health benefits to women, including decreased risk for type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer (1). Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as an infant receiving only breast milk and no other liquids or solids except for drops or syrups consisting of vitamins, minerals, or medicines (2). In 2007, Healthy People 2010 (HP2010) objectives for breastfeeding initiation and duration were updated to include two new objectives on exclusive breastfeeding (i.e., to increase the proportion of mothers who exclusively breastfeed their infants through age 3 months to 60% and through age 6 months to 25% [objectives 16-19d and 16-19e]) (3). … Compared with breastfeeding combined with formula feeding, exclusive breastfeeding provides more protection against lower respiratory tract infections, acute otitis media, atopic dermatitis, and childhood obesity (1). The American Academy of Pediatrics and other health organizations recommend that mothers exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first 6 months of life, with continuation of breastfeeding through age 12 months and beyond as other foods are introduced (1)."

Breast-feeding and atopic disease: A cohort study from childhood to middle age. (J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007) "CONCLUSION: Exclusively breast-fed babies with a maternal history of atopy were less likely to develop asthma before the age of 7 years, but more likely to develop asthma after the age of 7 years. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The current recommendation to breast-feed high-risk infants for protection against early wheezing illness can be confirmed. However, the recommendation should be reconsidered for protection against allergic asthma and atopy in the longer term."

Breast-feeding, Adipokines, and Childhood Obesity. (Epidemiology. 2007)

Does breastfeeding method influence infant weight gain? (Arch Dis Child. 2007)

Effect of Breastfeeding on Lung Function in Childhood and Modulation by Maternal Asthma and Atopy. (Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007) "Conclusions. Longer duration of breastfeeding favorably influences lung growth in children. However, in the presence of maternal asthma, longer breastfeeding is associated with decreased airflows."

Effects of refrigeration on the bactericidal activity of human milk: a preliminary study. (J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2007) "In conclusion, human milk possesses bactericidal activity that remains stable during the first 48 hours of refrigerated storage, but it is significantly reduced beyond 72 hours."

Evaluation of the evidence to support current recommendations to meet the needs of premature infants: the role of human milk. (Am J Clin Nutr. 2007)

Exposure to Mercury during the First Six Months via Human Milk and Vaccines: Modifying Risk Factors. (Am J Perinatol. 2007)

Flame Retardants in Placenta and Breast Milk and Cryptorchidism in Newborn Boys (Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) 2007) "Conclusions: Two different proxies were used for prenatal PBDE exposure, and levels in breast milk, but not in placenta, showed an association with congenital cryptorchidism. Other environmental factors may contribute to cryptorchidism. Our observations are of concern because human exposure to PBDEs is high in some geographic areas."

Food Choices to Meet Nutritional Needs of Breast-fed Infants and Toddlers on Mixed Diets. (J Nutr. 2007) " The primary focus of this review is considerations for complementary feedings to meet micronutrient needs of infants aged 6-24 mo who are continuing with breast-feeding and minimal or no formula. The World Health Organization recommends initiation of complementary feeding to breast-fed infants at approximately 6 mo of age. Whether complementary foods will meet nutrient needs will depend on the types of food selected."

Home environment, not duration of breast-feeding, predicts intelligence quotient of children at four years. (Nutrition. 2007)

Human milk: maternal dietary lipids and infant development. (Proc Nutr Soc. 2007)

Infant-Feeding Methods and Childhood Sleep-Disordered Breathing. (Pediatrics. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS. Our findings support the notion that breastfeeding may provide long-term protection against the severity of childhood sleep-disordered breathing."

Lipid profile of term infants on exclusive breastfeeding and mixed feeding: a comparative study. (Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007)

Literature Review: Outcomes Associated With Postnatal Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) via Breast Milk. (Adv Neonatal Care. 2007)

Longer Breastfeeding May Reduce Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in Young and Middle-Aged Women. (J Midwifery Womens Health. 2007)

Long-chain n 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in breast milk decrease the risk of HIV transmission through breastfeeding. (Am J Clin Nutr. 2007) "CONCLUSION: Increasing concentrations of long-chain n-6 polyunsaturated FAs in breast milk might reduce the risk of MTCT."

Maternal antibodies in breast milk protect the child from enterovirus infections. (Pediatrics. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS. These results suggest that breastfeeding has a protective effect against enterovirus infections in infancy. This effect seems to be mediated primarily by maternal antibodies in breast milk."

Optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding: what is the evidence to support current recommendations? (Am J Clin Nutr. 2007) "That review concluded that infants exclusively breastfed for 6 mo experienced less morbidity from gastrointestinal infection and showed no deficits in growth but that large randomized trials are required to rule out small adverse effects on growth and the development of iron deficiency in susceptible infants. Others have raised concerns that the evidence is insufficient to confidently recommend exclusive breastfeeding for 6 mo for infants in developed countries, that breast milk may not meet the full energy requirements of the average infant at 6 mo of age, and that estimates of the proportion of exclusively breastfed infants at risk of specific nutritional deficiencies are not available. Additionally, virtually no data are available to form evidence-based recommendations for the introduction of solids in formula-fed infants. Given increasing evidence that early nutrition and growth have effects on both short- and longer-term health, it is vital that this issue be investigated in high-quality randomized studies."

Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Human Milk of Mothers Living in Northern Tunisia. (Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2007)

Parent-Infant Co-sleeping and Its Relationship to Breastfeeding. ( Pediatr Health Care. 2007) "Co-sleeping can provide numerous benefits for both the parent(s) and the infant. Perhaps the greatest advantage lies in its promotion of breastfeeding, an act widely recognized for its benefits to both the mother and infant. However, risks also are associated with co-sleeping, prompting many researchers to examine the safety of its practice."

Session 4: Mineral metabolism and body composition Iron status of breast-fed infants. (Proc Nutr Soc. 2007)

Persistent organochlorine pesticides in human milk samples from Australia. (Chemosphere. 2007)

Support for breastfeeding mothers. (Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007)

[The effects of breastfeeding - I: effects on the immune system and the central nervous system.] (Ugeskr Laeger. 2007)

The relationship of breast-feeding, overweight, and asthma in preadolescents. (J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007) "CONCLUSION: Short duration of exclusive breast-feeding and subsequent overweight are associated with asthma in susceptible children, suggesting a common pathway. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This finding adds to the importance of promoting prolonged breast-feeding for the prevention of overweight and asthma."

Two-Year Morbidity-Mortality and Alternatives to Prolonged Breast-Feeding among Children Born to HIV-Infected Mothers in Côte d'Ivoire (PLoS Medicine 2007)

When Is Replacement Feeding Safe for Infants of HIV-Infected Women? (PLoS Medicine 2007)

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