Mom's Milk Does Not Protect Against Asthma and Allergies

Filed in archive Kid's Health , Studies , Women's Health on September 16, 2007

The "mantra" on breastfeeding has always been that breastfeeding is good for babies even up to two years. Mainly because a mother's milk contains all the nutrients that a baby should need - mom's milk is beneficial to a baby's immune system and will protect the baby from serious conditions (including cancer!) later in life - and so researches have revealed.




Yes, mom's milk is that good - not to mention cheap and convenient and beneficial to the moms as well!

However, according to a new study (pre-published online September 11 by the British Medical Journal), breastfeeding doesn't protect children against developing asthma or allergies.

The said study was lead by a team from McGill University and funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR):

The results indicate that increased breastfeeding did not reduce the risk of asthma, hayfever or eczema at 6.5 years of age despite large increases in the duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding. It also did not succeed in reducing the prevalence of positive skin prick tests.

Anyway, considering the many other conditions that a child is protected from by breastfeeding, mom's milk is still good despite the above findings.

Find more details from McGill University.

To find more all about breastfeeding, visit Breastfeeding1-2-3.