I lectured on the topic of silicone breast implants not long ago and learned
some interesting tidbits that I thought would contribute to the discussion on
the safety of breastfeeding with silicone implants. Several of the published
articles describe scleroderma-like esophageal disease in children breastfed by
mothers with silicone breast implants. Well, when we dig deeper we find that
some of the mothers in these studies are part of a class action suit against
the maker of the implants and the physician-author of the articles is an
expert witness for the plaintifs! The articles do not contain a conflict of
interest statement, but letters to the editor made this known.

There is a new study out that I think all of you may be interested in. It uses
silicon as a proxy measurement for silicone (silicone is 40% silicon). It
compares silicon content of milk from mothers with and without silicone
implants:
WITH IMPLANTS
mean silicon levels 55.45 ng/ml
WITHOUT IMPLANTS
mean silicon levels 51.05 ng/ml

Now if mothers become frightened about breastfeeding with implants we see that
the substitutes have
COWS MILK
mean silicon levels 708.94 ng/ml

26 BRANDS OF INFANT FORMULA
mean slicon levels 4402.5 ng/ml
range 746-13,811 ng/ml

Semple JL, Lugowski SJ, Baines CJ et al: Breast milk contamination and
silicone implants: preliminary results using silicon as a proxy measurement
for silicone. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 1998; 102:528-533

Silicon and silicone also enter our manufactured food through cow's feed,
antifoaming agents, and packaging techniques. How appetizing!!

Marsha Walker
Weston, Massachusetts