Breastfeeding Helps Reduce Allergies in Children

Filed in archive Pregnancy on November 14, 2007

More good news for women who decide to breastfeed, a topic we've covered a few times over the past two weeks. In a study by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in Dallas, women who breastfeed their children in the first three months reduces their risk of developing food allergies.

The study also recommended a few others things to help reduce allergies in younger children.

Research has determined a possible role for food Allergy prevention strategies in high-risk children, including maternal food avoidance in pregnancy, breast-feeding, maternal food avoidance while breast-feeding, use of hypoallergenic formulas, delayed introduction of allergenic foods and probiotics, noted one expert.

"A review of 18 studies demonstrates a significant protective effect of exclusive breast-feeding for at least three months for children with high risk for atopy (genetic tendency to develop allergic diseases) against the development of atopic dermatitis and early childhood asthma-like symptoms," Dr. Robert Wood, international health director for pediatric allergy and immunology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, said in a prepared statement.

He offered a number of recommendations for children at high risk of allergic diseases:

Women should avoid peanuts and tree nuts during pregnancy and while breast-feeding.
Mothers should supplement breast-feeding with a hypoallergenic formula (extensively or partially hydrolyzed).
Delay feeding these children solid foods until they're six months old.
Delay introduction of milk and egg until age 1 and peanut and tree nuts until age 3.
Start early intervention when signs of food allergy appear (secondary prevention).

In a planned presentation about allergies and dietary restrictions, another expert noted that a person may have an allergy to one member of a food family, but may be able to eat other members of the same food family.