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. 2016 Dec;70(12):1420-1427.
doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2016.135. Epub 2016 Jul 27.

Exclusive breastfeeding duration and infant infection

M A Quigley  1 , C Carson  1 , A Sacker  2 , Y Kelly  2
Affiliations

Exclusive breastfeeding duration and infant infection

M A Quigley et al. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2016 Dec.

Abstract

Background/objectives: We estimated the risk of infection associated with the duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF).

Subject/methods: We analysed the data on 15 809 term, singleton infants from the UK Millennium Cohort Study. Infants were grouped according to months of EBF: never, <2, 2-4, 4-6 and 6 (the latter being World Health Organisation (WHO) policy since 2001: 'post-2001 WHO policy'). Among those EBF for 4-6 months, we separated those who started solids, but not formula, before 6 months, and were still breastfeeding at 6 months (that is, WHO policy before 2001: 'pre-2001 WHO policy'), from other patterns. Outcomes were infection in infancy (chest, diarrhoeal and ear).

Results: EBF was not associated with the ear infection, but was associated with chest infection and diarrhoea. EBF for <4 months was associated with a significantly increased risk of chest infection (adjusted risk ratios (RR) 1.24-1.28) and diarrhoea (adjusted RRs 1.42-1.66) compared with the pre-2001 WHO policy. There was an excess risk of the chest infection (adjusted RR 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.97-1.46) and diarrhoea (adjusted RR 1.66, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.47) among infants EBF for 4-6 months, but who stopped breastfeeding by 6 months, compared with the pre-2001 WHO policy. There was no significant difference in the risk of chest infection or diarrhoea in those fed according to the pre-2001 versus post-2001 WHO policy.

Conclusions: There is an increased risk of infection in infants EBF for <4 months or EBF for 4-6 months who stop breastfeeding by 6 months. These results support current guidelines of EBF for either 4-6 or 6 months, with continued breastfeeding thereafter.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Distribution of household occupation and mother's education according to the duration of exclusive breastfeeding. (b) Distribution of mother's smoking status at 9 months and infant's childcare according to the duration of exclusive breastfeeding.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Adjusted risk ratios for chest infection and persistent/severe diarrhoea comparing duration of EBF with the pre-2001 WHO policy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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