I heard the author of the study interviewed on CBC. He does NOT state that
breastfeeding is a bad thing to do. He states that there are many other
benefits and that breastfeeding should still be promoted. However, it may be
(theory only) that the added immune protection due to breastfeeding, added
to the immunizations, sterile environment, etc. MAY be additive in effect
and MAY then increase the probability of developing asthma, etc.

Please keep in mind that no one study is ever conclusive when done at the
population level (this was not a strictly controlled trial). We need to see
several studies with the same results before we conclude a connection. I
also need to see the methods and the statistics used before I make more
comments.

B. Coleman
Epidemiologist

-----Original Message-----
From: DMLast [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: September 21, 2002 5:31 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: breast feeding good?


I'd like to see the study.  How about the confounding effect of more
mothers breastfeeding children and continuing longer if there is already a
family history of allergies?  Perhaps these children would have developed
allergies anyway and were selectively chosen as part of the breastfeeding
group due to this history.  Any comments?
Secondly, I'd like to see the funding for this study.

I hardly think we can ever argue that encouraging feeding human infants
human milk constitutes poor health promotion! And when we look at
socioeconomic factors, the cost savings alone for families who choose to
breastfeed should persuade you, Dennis.

Dorothyanne Last



-----Original Message-----
From:   Dennis Raphael [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   Friday, September 20, 2002 7:27 AM
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        breast feeding good?

[More evidence on why a critical perspective is necessary
in health promotion and why Dennis has no allergies.]

Breast-feeding tied to asthma, allergies
Study casts doubt on long-held belief that practice is beneficial
Suzanne Morrison, TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE

  HAMILTON - Researchers at McMaster University
have turned conventional wisdom on its head with
new evidence   that breast-feeding does not protect
children from allergies and asthma.

  In fact, they found breast-feeding may actually increase
the risk of these disorders.

For years, doctors have told patients that breast-feeding
an infant exclusively for the first six to 12 months is the best way
 to avoid allergies from developing.

  But that advice in medical textbooks may need to be rewritten
because of new research reported today by Dr. Malcolm
  Sears in the British medical journal The Lancet.

  Along with colleagues from New Zealand, Sears found that children
who are breast-fed for more than four weeks are
almost twice as likely to suffer allergies or asthma later on in
childhood than those not breast-fed.

  "Our paper says the protection does not last beyond the early years
and, in later years, it is associated with an increased
  risk," said Sears, a professor of medicine at McMaster.

  But she stressed no one is suggesting women stop
breast-feeding.

  "We are just saying preventing allergy and asthma in the
long term no longer can be regarded as a reason to breast-feed."

  Sears said there are still 101 good reasons to breast-feed,
from optimum nutrition to bonding with an infant, and only one
  reason not to << File: ATT00008.txt >>

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