What have studies shown about how breastfeeding can affect childhood infection risk, and can vitamin D supplementation reduce risk further?
One of the many health benefits breastfeeding can provide to children is a reduced risk of infections.
Breastfeeding is seen as beneficial to babies and mothers alike; research has suggested that breastfed babies have a reduced risk of developing asthma and type 1 diabetes, while mothers who breastfeed may reduce their risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and high blood pressure. The nutrition provided to an infant can benefit that child for a long time.
August is National Breastfeeding Month, a time to provide awareness and promote education on the benefits of breastfeeding. One of the more important benefits of breastfeeding that new or expectant mothers should be aware of is its impact on reducing childhood infections. In addition to breastfeeding, supplementary and complementary additions can reduce infection risk. What can breastfeeding do for childhood infection risk, and how can supplementing help?
Breastfeeding and Infection
Multiple studies have examined the potential link between breastfeeding and the risk of different infections at a young age. In a 2014 study published in Pediatrics, researchers examined whether breastfeeding affected infection risk in children at 6 years old. While the investigators did not find a strong link between breastfeeding and colds or upper respiratory infections, they did find a possible link to ear, throat, and sinus infections. Duration of breastfeeding played a role: Children who breastfed for 9 or more months were less likely to have had a past-year ear, throat, or sinus infection than children who only breastfed for 0 to 3 months.
A 2019 study in BMC Pediatrics found that breastfeeding may correlate with reduced risk of respiratory infection with fever and infective gastroenteritis in infants aged 3 to 6 months. In infants aged 6 to 18 months, breastfeeding within 3 months correlated with lower odds of infective gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis, ear infection, tracheitis, and laryngitis.