Sorry if this was posted earlier and I missed it, but posting just in case...

<< TGF-Beta1 in Breast Milk May Protect Against Infant Wheezing

Reuters Health Information 2003. © 2003 Reuters Ltd.

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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Nov 05 - The amount of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 in breast milk is inversely related to the risk of wheezing in breastfed infants, according to a recent report. This finding may help explain the well-known anti-wheezing effects linked with breastfeeding.

The findings are based on a study of breastfeeding and wheezing in 243 infant-mothers pairs from Tucson, Arizona. Levels of several cytokines, including TGF-beta1, were measured in the breast milk of all women several days after giving birth.

In agreement with previous reports, the prevalence of infant wheeze decreased as the duration of breastfeeding increased (p = 0.039), senior author Dr. Anne L. Wright, from the University of Arizona in Tucson, and colleagues note.

An inverse linear relationship was seen between TGF-beta1 levels and the risk of wheeze, the researchers note in the October issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. In contrast, a linear association was not seen with the other cytokines.

On multivariate analysis, breastfeeding for several months coupled with high TGF-beta1 levels reduced the risk of infant wheeze by 78% compared with short-term breastfeeding and low TGF-beta1 levels (p = 0.034).

"With the exception of one study of cow's milk protein allergy, this is the first study of the effects of a cytokine in human milk on the health of the infant," the researchers point out.

"The effects of milk cytokines on the maturation and functions of the epithelium, mucosal or submucosal leukocytes, and other specialized cells and structures in the alimentary and respiratory system should be particularly targeted" for future investigation, they add.

J Allergy Clin Immunol 2003;112:723-728. >>

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