(Summary from Journal Watch) Infants exclusively breast-fed for 6 months have fewer and less severe infections their first year of life, according to a study published in the September 2010 issue of Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Researchers interviewed roughly 900 new mothers in Crete throughout the infants' first year to assess breast-feeding habits and the infants' health. Overall, infants exclusively breast-fed had 0.7 fewer infections in their first year than infants with partial or no breast-feeding. Mothers who exclusively breast-fed their infants for at least 6 months reported fewer doctor visits for acute otitis media, acute respiratory infection, and thrush. In addition, hospital admissions for infection were lower in breast-fed babies.
Asked to comment, Dr. F. Bruder Stapleton of Journal Watch Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine said, "These data confirm once again the value of exclusive breast feeding on the health of infants in the first 6 months of life."
Archives of Disease in Childhood
No comments:
Post a Comment