Exclusive breast feeding is protective against asthma and atopy in children

Asthma is the leading cause of admission to hospital in Australian children, and its prevalence is increasing. Exposures early in life are critical, but the preventive role, if any, of breast feeding is controversial. In a prospective birth cohort study, Oddy et al (p 815) followed up 2187 children to age 6, generating comprehensive data on breast feeding, asthma, and atopy. After adjustment for confounders, exclusive breast feeding for at least 4 months was associated with a significantly reduced risk of asthma and atopy at age 6. This has implications for the understanding of the cause of atopic disease and suggests that interventions to optimise breast feeding practice may help to prevent childhood asthma.