Not sure why this is in our news now..

Jan Cornfoot



http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25818342-36398,00.html

Expert says breastfeeding benefits 'greatly exaggerated'
By Fiona MacRae and Tory Shepherd
The Advertiser
July 22, 2009 12:01am


Breastfeeding information "out of date"
Benefits are "greatly exaggerated"
However it may be good for the brain
THE benefits of breastfeeding have been greatly exaggerated, a leading 
paediatrician says.

Professor Michael Kramer, from Montreal's McGill University, claimed much of 
the information used to persuade mothers to breastfeed was either wrong or 
out of date.

He has spent more than 20 years studying the subject and believes a 
significant amount of evidence behind the claims is flawed, The Advertiser 
reports.

Those promoting the "breast is best" message say a mother's milk wards off a 
host of ills including protecting against obesity, allergies, asthma and 
diabetes.

But Professor Kramer's work has failed to show breastfeeding provides such 
protection. He claims many of the supposed advantages can be explained by 
differences in lifestyle.

"I don't favour overselling the evidence - we should not be conveying false 
information," he said.

However, studies showing breast milk wards off ear infections and stomach 
bugs stand up to scrutiny. Professor Kramer also believes it may be good for 
the developing brain, leading to a slight increase in IQ.


He said the confusion was exacerbated by competition between the formula 
milk industry and the breastfeeding lobby.

"The formula milk industry jumps on every piece of equivocal evidence," he 
said.

"But the breastfeeding lobby have a way of ignoring the evidence. Both sides 
are not being very scientific."

Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor Lindsay Giannakos said: "I 
have found breastfeeding does not protect my children from all illnesses but 
I do believe had I chosen to not breastfeed they would have been at 
increased risk of many health issues such as allergies ... obesity and 
diabetes.

"In my opinion, breastfeeding is the normal way to feed a child, and 
factories can not manufacture an equal substitute." 

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