| The Agency for Healthcare and Quality Releases Report on Breastfeeding |
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The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Releases Report on Breastfeeding and Maternal/Child Health Outcomes 2007. The AHRQ has released an evidence-based report on the correlation between breastfeeding and health outcomes for mother and child.
Outcomes for Mothers Who Breastfeed- For women without a history of gestational diabetes, the reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes was 4%-12% for each additional year of breastfeeding. A 4.3% reduction in breast cancer risk was also noted for each year of breastfeeding and 28% for 12 or more months of breastfeeding. The report also suggests an association between breastfeeding of more than 12 months and a 21% reduction in the risk of ovarian cancer, compared to never breastfeeding. Outcomes For Full Term Breastfed Babies- Acute Otitis Media In comparing ever breastfeeding with exclusive formula feeding, breastfeeding was associated with a 23% reduction in the risk of acute otitis media (middle ear infections). The reduction in the risk was 50% for infants exclusively breastfed for a duration of more than 3 or 6 months when compared to exclusive breastfeeding. Atopic Dermatitis The reduction in the risk of atopic dermatitis (a skin rash similar to eczema) was 42% in children with a family history of this condition who were exclusively breastfed for at least 3 months compared to those breastfed for less than 3 months. Gastrointestinal Infections For non-specific gastroenteritis, a reduction in the risk of 64% was noted during the first year in breastfed infants when compared with infants who were not breastfed. Lower Respiratory Tract Diseases A 72% reduction in the risk of hospitalizations due to lower respiratory tract diseases in infants younger than 1 year who were exclusively breastfed for 4 months was reported. Asthma. Breastfeeding for at least 3 months was associated with a 27% reduction in the risk of asthma in subjects without a family history of asthma. For individuals with a family history of asthma, a risk reduction of 40% was reported for children less than 10 years old who had been breastfed for at least 3 months compared with those who were not breastfed. Obesity The reduction in the risk of overweight/obesity was between 7%-24% for individuals breastfed compared with those who were not breastfed. A 4% reduction in the risk of being overweight in adult life was reported for each additional month of breastfeeding in infancy. Diabetes Breastfeeding for at least 3 months reduced the risk of childhood type 1 diabetes by 19%-27%, compared with those breastfed for less than 3 months. Breastfeeding in infancy was associated with a reduced risk of 39% for type 2 diabetes. Childhood Leukemia Breastfeeding for at least 6 months was associated with a reduced risk of 19% for developing childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and a 15% reduction in the risk of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Sudden Infant Death Syndrome The reduction in the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) was 36% for those with a history of breastfeeding, compared to those without a history of breastfeeding.
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