The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Breastfeeding and allergic disease: a multidisciplinary review of the literature (1966-2001) on the mode of early feeding in infancy and its impact on later atopic manifestations

På svenska

Author

  • J van Odijk
  • I Kull
  • MP Borres
  • P Brandtzaeg
  • U Edberg
  • LA Hanson
  • A Host
  • M Kuitunen
  • SF Olsen
  • Staffan Skerfving
  • J Sundell
  • S Wille
Show all

Summary, in English

Background: Strategies to prevent children from developing allergy have been elaborated on the basis of state-of-the-art reviews of the scientific literature regarding pets and allergies, building dampness and health, and building ventilation and health. A similar multidisciplinary review of infant feeding mode in relation to allergy has not been published previously. Here, the objective is to review the scientific literature regarding the impact of early feeding (breast milk and/or cow's milk and/or formula) on development of atopic disease. The work was performed by a multidisciplinary group of Scandinavian researchers. Methods: The search in the literature identified 4323 articles that contained at least one of the exposure and health effect terms. A total of 4191 articles were excluded mainly because they did not contain information on both exposure and health effects. Consequently, 132 studies have been scrutinized by this review group. Results: Of the 132 studies selected, 56 were regarded as conclusive. Several factors contributed to the exclusions. The studies considered conclusive by the review group were categorized according to population and study design. Conclusions: The review group concluded that breastfeeding seems to protect from the development of atopic disease. The effect appears even stronger in children with atopic heredity. If breast milk is unavailable or insufficient, extensively hydrolysed formulas are preferable to unhydrolysed or partially hydrolysed formulas in terms of the risk of some atopic manifestations.

Publishing year

2003

Language

English

Pages

833-843

Publication/Series

Allergy

Volume

58

Issue

9

Document type

Journal article review

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Respiratory Medicine and Allergy

Keywords

  • cow's milk formula
  • breast feeding
  • atopic disease
  • allergy
  • asthma
  • wheezing

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1398-9995