Web address:
     http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/
     081014092724.htm




Breast Is Best In Fight Against Childhood Asthma

				ScienceDaily (Oct. 15, 2008)
— A University of Sunderland academic has discovered a link between
breast feeding and a lower incidence in asthma in young children.
				
				

				
Dr Mohammad Shamssain and his research team recently completed a two
phase study into the prevalence and severity of asthma in children in
the North-East. Their research focussed specifically on the positive
benefits of breast feeding in the prevention of asthma, and also the
effect of obesity on the prevalence of asthma among young children.
Dr Shamssain and his team analysed 7,000 school children in the region aged 6-15 years.
The team discovered that children who had been breast fed for six
months or more had a significantly reduced risk of asthma –
particularly among young boys.
Dr Shamssain says: “Breastfed children showed lower prevalence rates
of asthma, rhinitis and eczema, and the effect of breast feeding was
more evident in boys than girls. Asthma and wheeze were resolved
significantly earlier in breastfed children than those who were not
breastfed.”
The University of Sunderland team discovered that breast feeding
lowers the incidence of allergic disorders, and that children breast
fed from 4-9 months had a significantly lower risk of asthma. Those
breast fed up to 7-9 months had lower instances of persistence wheezing
and coughing.
Dr Shamssain says: “Breast feeding is a cost-effective approach to a
significant prevention of allergic disease in children. Our research
demonstrates that exclusive breast feeding prevents the development of
allergic diseases in children.”
In the second part of the study Dr Shamssain’s team discovered that
both boys and girls in the highest BMI percentile, and are therefore
classified as obese, have higher prevalence rates of asthma and
respiratory symptoms (wheeze, cough, breathlessness and
exercise-induced wheezing) than non-obese children.
Dr Shamssain says: “The association between overweight and
exercise-induced wheezing is stronger in boys than girls. In boys, the
risk of being overweight is associated with exercise-induced wheezing,
life-time asthma, and current wheeze. In girls, the risk of being
overweight is mainly associated with exercise-induced wheezing.
“These results demonstrate that obesity is a definite risk factor in
asthma among young children, and there are gender differences regarding
the respiratory risk of obesity.”
Dr Shamssain recently presented his findings at the European Respiratory Society in Berlin.
				
				
				
				
				
				Adapted from materials provided by University of Sunderland.
				
				
					
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							University of Sunderland (2008, October 15). Breast Is Best In Fight Against Childhood Asthma. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 17, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2008/10/081014092724.htm
							

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