Breastfeeding and prevention of food allergies

*gasps*
Could Andi have been right? Or just up on her "high horse"???

Breast-Feeding Cuts Food Allergy Risk 2 hours, 18 minutes ago

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Breast-feeding in the first three months of life appears to help shield children from developing food allergies.

That's just one of a number of findings on food allergies scheduled to be presented this week at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in Dallas.


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.


For example, one study on nine common fish found cross-reactivity and allergenicity were highest among cod, salmon and pollack and lowest among halibut, flounder, tuna and mackerel. Another study on edible nuts found cross-reactivity was strong among walnut, pecan and hazelnut; moderate among cashew, pistachio, Brazil nut and almond; and extremely low between peanut and tree nuts.


"You may be allergic to a particular part of a food, but not to another part," Dr. Sami Bahna, chief of allergy and immunology at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, said in a prepared statement.


Another expert said doctors need to consider food allergy as a potential cause of gastrointestinal or dermatological symptoms in patients.

[tmv]

Yay for breastfeeding! Someone needs to let my mil know about this. She still doesn't believe it's better. Crazy!  She starts debates with me all the time about it. UGGGG!

[RuthiePee]

I believe you!
From my own experiences I have always thought it true.
I didn't breastfeed my 2nd DD and she has lots of allergies. The other three so far have been allergy free.

Ruth xx

[rubyolivia]

My SIL stopped nursing my niece at 4 months and she is the allergy QUEEN! Peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, dairy...seasonal allergies and asthma!  My nephew nursed for 10 months and is allergy free so far!! It's amazing! Max does have some formula, but most of his meals are breastmilk and I plan to nurse until he's one if I can!!

[tiredbuthappy]

i wouldn't be losing so many hours of sleep and spending so much time hooked up to a pump if i didn't feel that breast milk was important! of course, i know many people can't breast feed or pump, but i feel that if i am able, i should give it to her for at least 6 months (my current goal- seems i keep pushing it back!)

[tomel]

Very interesting. Good info to know. I wonder why they say to hold off on the probiotics?