Breastfeeding and the Infant's Immune System

A very large number of publications focus on the potential health effects of breastfeeding and many of these on the effect on the infant's immune function and on the risk of developing immune related diseases. Collections of abstracts from the most recent publications on long and short term effects of breastfeeding are given in periodical bibliographies, where abstracts are categorized into main topics. These bibliographies are available on the home page of the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation (www.isrhml.org).

Two recent reviews from our group provide overviews on the effect of breastfeeding on current and future health [1] [2]. These reviews also include the effects on the immune system and immune related diseases. These papers provide a more complete list of references than those given below.

Traditionally, effects on immune related diseases have been considered to be effects on allergy, atopic diseases, asthma, inflammatory bowel diseases and some auto immune diseases such as type 1 diabetes. With a more wide definition of immune related diseases, infectious diseases and cancers could also be included. More recently there has been focus on low grade inflammation as part of the aetiology of obesity and cardiovascular diseases, but the effects of breastfeeding on these diseases, as well as the effects on cancer are not covered here.

References

• 1 Schack-Nielsen L, Michaelsen KF. Advances in our understanding of the biology of human milk and its effects on the offspring.  J Nutr. 2007;  137 503-510
• 2 Schack-Nielsen L, Michaelsen KF. Breast feeding and future health.  Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2006;  9 289-296
• 3 Hasselbalch H, Jeppesen DL, Engelmann MD, Michaelsen KF, Nielsen MB. Decreased thymus size in formula-fed infants compared with breastfed infants.  Acta Paediat. 1996;  85 1029-1032
• 4 Hanson L. Immunobiology of human milk: how breastfeeding protects infants. Amarillo, Texas: Hale Publishing 2004
• 5 Rutstein SO. Effects of preceding birth intervals on neonatal, infant and under-five years mortality and nutritional status in developing countries: Evidence from the demographic and health surveys.  Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2005;  89 7-24
• 6 World Health Organization . Effect of breastfeeding on infant and child mortality due to infectious diseases in less developed countries: a pooled analysis. WHO Collaborative Study Team on the Role of Breastfeeding on the Prevention of Infant Mortality.  Lancet. 2000;  355 451-455
• 7 Howie PW, Forsyth JS, Ogston SA, Clark A, Florey CD. Protective effect of breast feeding against infection.  Br Med J. 1990;  300 11-16
• 8 Kramer MS, Chalmers B, Hodnett ED. et al . Promotion of breastfeeding intervention trial (PROBIT) - A randomized trial in the Republic of Belarus.  Jama-Journal of the American Medical Association. 2001;  285 413-420
• 9 Duncan B, Ey J, Holberg CJ, Wright AL, Martinez FD. Exclusive breast-feeding for at least 4 months protects against otitis media.  Pediatrics. 1993;  91 867-872
• 10 Odijk J van, Kull I, Borres MP. et al . 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.  Allergy. 2003;  58 833-843
• 11 Gdalevich M, Mimouni D, David M, Mimouni M. Breast-feeding and the onset of atopic dermatitis in childhood: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies.  J Am Acad Dermatol. 2001;  45 520-527
• 12 Halken S. Prevention of allergic disease in childhood: clinical and epidemiological aspects of primary and secondary allergy prevention.  Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2004;  15 4-32
• 13 Gdalevich M, Mimouni D, Mimouni M. Breast-feeding and the risk of bronchial asthma in chidhood: a systematic review with meta-analysis of prospective studies.  Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2004;  15 261-266
• 14 Muraro A, Dreborg S, Halken S, Høst A. Dietary prevention of allergic diseases in infants and small children. Part III: Critical review of published peer-reviewed observational and interventional studies and final recommendations.  Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2004;  15 291-307
• 15 Bergmann RL, Diepgen TL, Kuss O. et al . Breastfeeding duration is a risk factor for atopic eczema.  Clin Exp Immunol. 2002;  32 205-209
• 16 Purvis DJ, Thompson JMD, Clark PM. et al . Risk factors for atopic dermatitis in New Zealand children at 3.5 years of age.  British Journal of Dermatology. 2005;  152 742-749
• 17 Benn CS, Wolfahrt J, Aaby P. et al . Breastfeeding and risk of atopic dermatitis, by parental history of allergy, during the first 18 months of life.  Am J Epidemiol. 2004;  160 217-223
• 18 EURODIAS Substudy 2 Study Group . Rapid early growth is associated with increased risk of childhood type 1 diabetes in various European populations.  Diabetes Care. 2002;  25 1755-1760
• 19 Klement E, Cohen RV, Boxman J, Joseph A, Reif S. Breastfeeding and risk of inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review with meta-analysis.  Am J Clin Nutr. 2004;  80 1342-1352

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