Breastfeeding and Asthma

We all know that breastfeeding has myriad positive effects on a baby's health, but once in a while we hit a little glitch...

Past research has shown that the longer a baby breastfeeds, the better the lung function in later childhood. However, this may be only attributable to children of non-asthmatic mothers. The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine recently reported a study which found that "longer breastfeeding in children with [asthmatic mothers] demonstrates no improved lung growth and significant decrease in airflows later in life." As background, there are particular growth factors in breast milk of non-asthmatic mothers which aid in lung development. One of these factors is directly related to normal development and function of the lungs, and the amount that babies receive through breast milk has been inversely related to infant wheeze. This suggests that the risk for asthma in children of asthmatic mothers could possibly be associated with both of the above factors.

However, Dr. Theresa W. Guilbert, who analyzed data in the study, states that the clinical implications are still unknown. "Human milk is uniquely suited to the feeding of infants, having been subject to selective pressures for millennia. It is premature to suggest any change in breastfeeding recommendations based on one study, particularly given the multiple well-documented benefits of breastfeeding."