Reuters Health of July 31, 2002 posted an article reporting on the results
of a study conducted at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in
Perth Australia. In the study researchers studied more than 2,600 infants
from preterm to age 6 years. The results were published in the July 2002
issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The results showed
that the risk of childhood asthma increased by 28% if exclusive
breast-feeding was stopped and other milk was introduced before the infant
was 4 months old.
Chief researcher, Dr. Wendy H. Oddy stated, "Among many other health
benefits, breast-feeding provides protection against infection through
defense agents in the milk." She continued, "Given our findings, we continue
to recommend that infants with or without a maternal history of asthma be
exclusively breast-fed for 4 months and beyond."
The Reuters article also stated, "In general, breast-feeding is the best
nutrition for infants. It is full of beneficial hormones, enzymes and growth
factors, and reduces infections, respiratory illness and diarrhea in
babies."