Comparison of evoked arousability in breast and formula fed infants
Archives of Disease in Childhood 2004;89:22-25

http://adc.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/archdischild%3b89/1/22?looku
pType=volpage&vol=89&fp=22&view=short

Background: Currently, there is no consistent evidence that breast feeding
reduces the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Arousal from sleep
is believed to be an important survival mechanism that may be impaired in
victims of SIDS. Previously it has been shown that arousability is impaired
by the major risk factors for SIDS such as prone sleeping and maternal
smoking.

Aims: To establish whether arousability was altered by method of feeding,
and whether breast fed infants would have lower arousal thresholds.

Methods: Forty three healthy term infants were studied using daytime
polysomnography on three occasions: 2-4 weeks post-term, 2-3 months
post-term, and 5-6 months post-term. Multiple measurements of arousal
threshold (cm H2O) in response to nasal air jet stimulation applied
alternately to the nares were made in both active sleep (AS) and quiet sleep
(QS) while infants slept supine. Arousal thresholds and sleep period lengths
were compared between formula fed and breast fed infants at each age.

Results: Arousal thresholds were not different between breast fed and
formula fed infants in QS. However, in AS breast fed infants were
significantly more arousable than formula fed infants at 2-3 months of age.
There was no difference between groups of infants when sleep period length
was compared at any study.

Conclusions: Breast fed infants are more easily aroused from AS at 2-3
months of age than formula fed infants. This age coincides with the peak
incidence of SIDS.

Janice Reynolds
Nokomis, Saskatchewan, Canada

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