Query: breastfeeding allergies

title: Effects of Breastfeeding on the Development of Allergies

title: Breastfeeding duration modified the effects of neonatal and familial risk factors on childhood asthma and allergy: a population based study
abstract: Childhood asthma and allergic diseases are a significant global problem. There are inconsistent findings on the associations of delivery mode, the number of children in the household and breastfeeding with childhood asthma and allergic diseases. We assessed these associations and examined whether breastfeeding modified the effects of neonatal and familial risk factors on childhood asthma and allergic diseases.  A population based cross sectional study was conducted in Shanghai, China. A total of 17 primary schools were randomly selected from 13 districts of Shanghai in this study. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was adopted to assess the childhood asthma and allergic diseases. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations between neonatal and familial factors and childhood asthma and allergic diseases, and to examine the modification effects of breastfeeding on the associations assessed.  Of 10,464 primary school children aged 6 11 years, the overall prevalence of childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis, urticaria, food allergy and drug allergy was 13.9, 22.7, 15.3, 8.1 and 4.6% respectively. Male sex, high socioeconomic status, cesarean section delivery, only one child in the household and having family history of allergy were associated with increased odds ratio (OR) of childhood asthma and allergic diseases while longer breastfeeding duration 6 months) was inversely associated with these diseases. Longer breastfeeding duration also attenuated the OR of neonatal and familial risk factors on childhood asthma and allergic diseases. For instance, the adjusted OR of childhood asthma in the group of vaginal delivery and breastfeeding duration 6 months was lowest (0.78, 95% confidence interval: 0.66, 0.92) Conclusions Longer breastfeeding duration was inversely associated with childhood asthma and allergic diseases, and also reduced the OR of neonatal and familial risk factors on these diseases. Giving the prevalence of childhood asthma and allergic diseases is rapidly rising across the globe, these findings may have important clinical and public health implications.

title: Is 6 months still the best for exclusive breastfeeding and introduction of solids? A literature review with consideration to the risk of the development of allergies.
abstract: Health professionals advising mothers on the introduction of solid foods to infants need evidence based guidelines. A literature review on this topic was undertaken to examine the current international recommendations of expert bodies and evidence based research published since 2003. Particular reference in this review is made to the timing of introducing food allergens and the risk of development of allergy in the child. Recommendations in developed countries of reducing this risk by avoidance of allergenic foods until the child is of varying ages past 6 months have been challenged by recent population studies. Where the risk of allergy is a key consideration, currently available research suggests that introducing solids at 4 6 months may result in the lowest allergy risk. When all aspects of health are taken into account, the recommended duration of exclusive breastfeeding and age of introduction of solids were confirmed to be 6 months, but no later.

title: Differences between preschoolers with asthma and allergies in urban and rural environments
abstract: Previous studies have provided conflicting results about how living in a rural or urban environment influences schoolchildren with asthma and allergic diseases in different ways. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if recurrent wheezing preschoolers from rural or urban areas differ in asthma, allergic diseases, and atopy.  A cross sectional study in Rafaela, Argentina, on 143 preschoolers with recurrent wheezing from rural and urban settings was performed (2010 2012) Diagnosis of asthma (by positive asthma predictive index [API] allergic diseases (rhinitis, dermatitis) and atopy (by skin prick test [SPT] peripheral blood eosinophils, and serum total IgE) were assessed.  Preschoolers from rural settings had significantly higher prevalence of vaginal delivery, longer breastfeeding, earlier onset of wheezing, more parental smoking, siblings, shared a bedroom, and more exposure to chemicals used in plant fumigation or farm animals, and unpasteurized milk consumption, in comparison to preschoolers living in urban setting. In contrast, preschoolers from urban areas had significantly higher prevalence of parental history of allergy, positive skin prick test, and positive API. After multivariate analysis adjusting for covariates, maternal smoking [odds ratio (OR) 3.44] and positive SPT (OR 5.57) significantly increase the risk of asthma diagnosis (positive API) in contrast, living in rural setting (OR 0.04) and having more siblings (OR 0.51) decrease their risk.  Recurrent wheezing preschoolers from rural areas had a significant inverse odds of being diagnosed with asthma (type 2 inflammation) when compared to those from urban areas. Exposure to farm animals and consumption of unpasteurized milk might have a role.

title: Possible Role of Environmental Factors in the Development of Food Allergies
abstract: The development of food allergies is thought to involve multiple factors, and it is unclear which conveys the most risk regarding this process. Since food allergy is a chronic disease without a cure at this time, understanding its development could provide an avenue for preventive practices and development of a curative treatment. Both historical and current data implicate maternal factors, genetics, and environmental exposures as major risk factors in the development of food allergy. An immature gut of the infant has been hypothesized as a possible route of sensitization. Breastfeeding until at least 6 months of age has been shown to have protective factors for the newborn and may possibly improve gut permeability. Newer studies such as the LEAP and EAT investigations also looked at early exposure and prevention of food allergies; their long term results are critical in understanding early introduction and tolerance. Cutaneous exposure, oral exposure, and food protein exposure in house dust with their relation to the food allergy course are also a path of interest. Current research has shown sensitization can occur through impaired skin such as those with eczema and a filaggrin mutation. Tropomyosin and alpha gal also are related to the complicated immunomodulatory factors involved in food allergy and allergic response. Cross reactivity with plant allergens, sensitization to house dust mite and cockroach, and lone star tick bites can also induce food allergens in children and adults. Together, these factors provide a cohesive beginning to understanding how food allergies can occur and can influence further investigation into prevention, treatment, and eventual cure of food allergies.

title: Early Infant Feeding Practices as Possible Risk Factors for Immunoglobulin E Mediated Food Allergies in Kuwait
abstract: Early feeding and infant exposures have been suggested as potential risk factors for immunoglobulin E (IgE mediated food allergy (FA) We aimed to evaluate the association between IgE mediated FA in children and early exposures including the child's nutritional status, breastfeeding and its duration, the age at which the solid food was first introduced, antibiotic exposure during the first year of life, and the child's vitamin D status during infancy.  A case control study.  Children aged 0 13 years were recruited from pediatric allergy and immunology clinics (PAICs) located at major government hospitals in Kuwait (total FA cases: n 100; boys 67% and healthy controls (n 100, boys 55% were recruited from various vaccination units at primary healthcare centers.  Cow's milk allergy was the most common type of FA. FA status was independently associated with the early exposures of exclusive breastfeeding (aOR 15.55 (3.26 74.19) p 0.001) vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency during infancy (aOR 5.42 (1.92 15.30) p 0.001) and antibiotic exposure during the first year of life (aOR 5.00 (1.58 15.84) p 0.006) Conclusions FA is highly prevalent among children in Kuwait, and our data indicate that early nutrition related and antibiotic exposures are associated with FA risk.

title: [Influence of breastfeeding and diet in the development of allergies in children]
abstract: To evaluate the relationship between breastfeeding and the development of allergic diseases (AD) DESIGN A cases controls study.  Santander University Hospital, Bucaramanga, Colombia, South America. Level II health care.  A total of 1460 boys and girls between 3 and 7 years old attending an outpatient clinic.  and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) relationship between the presence of allergic diseases and BF and EBF, adjusting for the confounding factors due to other exposures using logistic regression.  Out of a total of 1460 patients, 41.6% (95%CI 39.0 44.2) received EBF, while 44.4% (95%CI 41.9 47.0) were partially breastfed. Among those who had an allergy, 34.8% (95%CI 32.4 37.3) had rhinitis, 27.8% (95%CI 25.6 30.2) asthma and 11.6% (95%CI 10.0 13.4) atopic dermatitis; 7.0% (95%CI 5.1 9.3) had the three conditions. To breastfeed exclusively for >or= 3 months is a protective factor for AD (OR 0.70, 95%CI 0.48 1.03) Breastfeeding for 3 months, regardless of whether or not it is exclusive, is a risk factor for AD (OR 2.05, 95%CI 1.47 2.86)  The recommendation to exclusively breastfeed for as long as possible continues to be valid, as there was a significant preventive impact on the development of AD with the length of time breastfed. Prospective studies including lung function tests and immunological analyses need to be performed to confirm these findings.

title: The role of breastfeeding on the development of respiratory allergies [Abstract in English]
abstract: To review the publications that investigated the association between breastfeeding and asthma in childhood. Source of data Recent scientific publications from the databases Scielo, Lilacs and Pubmed. Publications in English, Portuguese and Spanish have been included. We have tried to review the mechanisms of allergic reactions and respiratory allergies, as well as publications related to breast milk and the protection of respiratory allergies such as asthma.  The allergic respiratory illnesses are constituted by asthma and allergic rhinitis, with characteristics of type I hypersensitivity, which results from the interaction of environmental allergens with specific IgE antibodies. Most of the reviews on asthma risk factors recommended exclusive breastfeeding to reduce the probability of the development of atopy and asthma in childhood. Although such opinion has been widely accepted, the results from the literature are conflicting.  Despite the elevated number of studies published on the subject, it is not possible to conclude that breastfeeding will help to prevent sensitization to allergens in children with asthma. Nevertheless, exclusive breastfeeding must be encouraged during the first months of life because of its large well known benefits.

title: Prebiotics for the Prevention of Allergies: A Systematic Review and Meta analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
abstract: C Cuello Garcia, A Fiocchi, R Pawankar.  To assess whether supplementing prebiotics in pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and infants would affect the development of allergic diseases in children. The study population included pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, infants born at term, or children up to 9 years of age. A systematic review and meta analysis was performed of studies in which researchers assessed the effects of prebiotic supplementation on the development of allergies. Randomized trials with a minimum follow up of 4 weeks and observational studies were included. In the studies, authors compared any type of prebiotic against placebo or no prebiotics. Exclusion criteria included cointerventions administered with prebiotics. Outcome measures included development of eczema, development of asthma and/or recurrent wheezing, development of food allergy, development of allergic rhinitis, adverse events in

title: [The importance of breastfeeding for the infant]
abstract: Breastmilk is natural nutrition for infants. In addition to nutrients, breast milk contains a variety of immunomodulatory, anti inflammatory and antimicrobial substances that help to reduce short and long term morbidity risks and positively influence the child's cognitive and psychomotor development. Studies show that breastfed children are at a significantly lower risk for lower respiratory tract infections, otitis media, and gastroenteritis compared with non breastfed children. Also, the risk for sudden infant death syndrome is significantly reduced by breastfeeding. Breastfeeding does not have an influence on the risk of allergies, neither in the overall population nor in children with a familial predisposition. However, breastfeeding promotes brain development, especially of the white matter, and is associated with improved intelligence by about 2 IQ points. Furthermore, studies show an inverse correlation between breastfeeding and the subsequent risk for obesity, and there is evidence for a risk reduction of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Breastfed infants can largely regulate their food intake. This can have a positive effect on later eating behavior and the risk for becoming overweight. In view of the positive health effects of breastfeeding, it is recommended that infants be breast fed exclusively during the first few months of life and that complementary feeding should be started at the earliest from the beginning of the 5th month and no later than at the beginning of the 7th month. Complementary food should be offered in a suitable form and with consideration of the signals of the child. Overall, breastfeeding can make a significant contribution to promoting public health and thereby to reducing healthcare costs.