It is so good to see this in the MAINSTREAM news!
 I am so pleased they included this:

>It is thought that this higher risk is due to the larger, more complex
proteins found in solid foods which may lead to greater damage to the lining
of the stomach, allowing the virus to pass through the gut wall.<

Hmmmm... haven't I heard that somewhere before?
LOL

norma

 [image: BBC NEWS]
Breastfeeding alone cuts HIV risk
*Exclusively breastfeeding until a baby is six-months old can significantly
reduce the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission, an African study says.
*

The South African researchers compared solely breastfed babies with those
also given formula or solid foods.

They say breastfeeding carries a low transmission risk, but protects against
potentially fatal conditions such as diarrhoea and pneumonia.

They say it is the best option for most women in the developing world.


 *Breastfeeding remains a key intervention to reduce mortality *
Professor Hoosen Coovadia, researcher

In the developed world, the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission has
been cut from 25% to under 2% because of the use of antiretroviral
therapies, exclusive formula feeding and good healthcare support.

But these benefits are often unavailable in the developing world.

There, World Health Organization (WHO) guidance says HIV positive women who
can afford to use formula, and who have the facilities they need to do so -
such as a fire to heat water with - should do so.

But the researchers, from the Africa Centre for Health and Population
Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, say this is not the case for the
majority of women in developing countries.

For this reason, and because exclusively breastfeeding protects against
other diseases, they suggest it is the best option.

It is also associated with fewer breast health problems such as mastitis and
breast abscesses, both of which can increase the amount of the HIV virus in
the mother's breast milk.

*'Breakthrough' *

The research, funded by the UK's Wellcome Trust, found that there was a 4%
risk of postnatal transmission to infants who were just fed on breast milk
between the age of six weeks and six months.

Infants who received formula milk or animal milk in addition to breast milk
were nearly twice as likely to be infected as infants who received breast
milk only.

And those given solids in addition to breast milk were almost 11 times more
likely to acquire infection.

It is thought that this higher risk is due to the larger, more complex
proteins found in solid foods which may lead to greater damage to the lining
of the stomach, allowing the virus to pass through the gut wall.

Professor Hoosen Coovadia, of the Africa Centre, said: "The question of
whether or not to breastfeed is not a straightforward one.

"We know that breastfeeding carries with it a risk of transmitting HIV
infection from mother to child, but breastfeeding remains a key intervention
to reduce mortality.

"In many areas of Africa where poverty is endemic, replacement feed, such as
formula milk or animal milk, is expensive and cannot act as a complete
substitute.

"The key is to find ways of making breastfeeding safe."

Writing in the Lancet, Wendy Holmes of the Centre for International Health
in Melbourne and Felicity Savage of the equivalent institution in London say
the research is a "breakthrough".

"It provides crucial confirmatory evidence that when HIV-positive mothers
breastfeed exclusively, their babies have only a low risk of infection with
HIV.

"This risk is lower that that in babies who receive other food or liquids in
addition to breast milk before six months."

Drs Holmes and Savage added: "The results emphasise that promotion of
exclusive breastfeeding for all mothers and babies could prevent much
paediatric HIV infection as well as deaths from other causes."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/6507309.stm

Published: 2007/03/30 09:46:00 GMT

(c) BBC MMVII
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