Timing of infant feeding in relation to childhood asthma and allergic diseases
Abstract
Background Emerging evidence questions current recommendations on the timing of infant feeding for the prevention of childhood allergies. The evidence for asthma is inconclusive.Objective We sought to investigate the associations between the duration of breast-feeding and timing of introduction of complementary foods and the development of asthma and allergies by the age of 5 years.Methods Data were analyzed for 3781 consecutively born children. The dietary exposures were categorized into thirds and analyzed as time-dependent variables. Asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic eczema end points were assessed by using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire, whereas IgE antibodies were analyzed from serum samples at the age of 5 years. Cox proportional hazard and logistic regressions were used for the analyses.Results The median duration of exclusive and total breast-feeding was 1.4 months (interquartile range, 0.2-3.5 months) and 7.0 months (interquartile range, 4.0-11.0 months), respectively. Total breast-feeding of 9.5 months or less was associated with an increased risk of nonatopic asthma. Introduction of wheat, rye, oats, or barley at 5 to 5.5 months was inversely associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis, whereas introduction of other cereals at less than 4.5 months increased the risk of atopic eczema. Introduction of egg at 11 months or less was inversely associated with asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic sensitization, whereas introduction of fish at 9 months or less was inversely associated with allergic rhinitis and atopic sensitization.Conclusion Early introduction of wheat, rye, oats, and barley cereals; fish; and egg (respective to the timing of introduction of each food) seems to decrease the risk of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic sensitization in childhood. Longer duration of total breast-feeding, rather than its exclusivity, was protective against the development of nonatopic but not atopic asthma, suggesting a potential differing effect of breast-feeding on different asthma phenotypes.
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In human studies, early introduction of solid food was associated with a higher risk of obesity or immunological diseases.
“In human studies, early introduction of solid food was associated with a higher risk of obesity (274, 275) or immunological diseases (276).”
From Diet and the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis: Sowing the Seeds of Good Mental Health (2021) · cites this paper as [276]
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- Authors
- Nwaru, B. I., Takkinen, H.-M., Niemelä, O., Kaila, M., Erkkola, M., Ahonen, S., Haapala, A.-M., Kenward, M. G., Pekkanen, J., Lahesmaa, R., Kere, J., Simell, O., Veijola, R., Ilonen, J., Hyöty, H., Knip, M., & Virtanen, S. M.
- Affiliations
- Tampere University (FI)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-01
- Volume
- 131
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 78-86
- ISSN
- 0091-6749 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2081971780
- Cited by
- 151
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 10.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Asthma and respiratory diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Immunology and Allergy › Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Breastfeeding Practices and Influences
- Keywords
- breastfeeding duration, complementary feeding, childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, atopic sensitization, IgE, wheat, rye, oat, barley, eggs, fish, asthma phenotypes, allergy prevention
- MeSH terms
- Asthma, Breast Feeding, Child, Preschool, Diet, Female, Humans, Hypersensitivity, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Time Factors
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