Breastfeeding study flawed.

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http://www.news. com.au/mercury/ story/0,22884, 22524624- 5006544,00. htmlBreastfeeding study 'flawed'JANE BUNCEOctober 03, 2007 03:36pmA STUDY that found exclusive breastfeeding may increase a baby's risk ofdeveloping allergies is scientifically flawed, breastfeeding advocates say.The Australian study released this week found allergic mums who exclusivelybreastfeed their babies may be inadvertently increasing their infant's riskof developing asthma or eczema later in life.The researchers found that while breastfeeding protects these infants inearly childhood, it actually increases the risk of them developing allergiesas adolescents and adults.The study, published in the US-based Journal of Allergy and ClinicalImmunology,

considered data from more than 8500 people involved in theTasmanian Longitudinal Health Study.The Melbourne and Hobart researchers said the findings should spark areconsideration of current recommendations that high-risk infants, thosewhose mothers had an allergy, be breastfed for long-term allergy protection.But in a statement titled "Breastfeeding and allergy study flawed", theAustralian Breastfeeding Association disputed the study, saying most otherresearch had found breastfeeding protected against allergy.The association questioned the researchers' assertion that "exclusive"breastfeeding – when the baby is fed only breastmilk and no formula – was toblame for the increased risk of allergies.The people in the study were born in 1961, the association said, when givinga newborn baby a nightly feed of artificial formula was routine – oftenwithout the mother's permission or

knowledge.The formula could have caused the increased prevalence of allergies found inthe study, not the supposedly exclusive breastfeeding."One exposure to non-human milk can sensitise a baby's immature gut and makethem more prone to allergies," the association said.The association cited a West Australian study that found giving a baby underfour months old any artificial formula increased their risk of asthma by 20per cent.The formula also decreased their brain function and doubled their chance ofbeing admitted to hospital for chest infection.The association said there was nothing in the study to justify calling forany changes to breastfeeding recommendations."The causes of allergy and asthma are complex," it said."Breastfeeding mothers should be reassured that one study is not a reason toignore a large body of evidence that shows breastfeeding is the best way

tofeed an infant."

If I came to you and said, "I'm going to perform a little sexual assault on you---a small rape---because, one day you could meet a rapist and you could be raped. But, it won't be as bad the second time as the first time." This is exactly the same thing as giving someone a vaccine, or a little bit of disease. It's nonsense! An Interview With Guylaine Lanctot, M.D. By Kenneth & Dee Burke

 

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