Breastfeeding and Allergy Protection

Breastfeeding provides many emotional and physical benefits to babies, but allergy protection may not be one of them.
A new study finds no significant difference in allergies between children who were breastfed and those who were formula fed. Researchers analyzed the medical records of 194 children… 4 to 18 years old… who were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis or hay fever. They were divided into two groups based on their infant feeding history. 134 were breastfed and 60 were formula fed. The number of patients with a positive skin prick test for hay fever was the same in both groups.
They also had similar numbers of patients with asthma, eczema and food allergies.
One study author stresses breastfeeding is good for babies, and new mothers should continue to breastfeed. He says, “Larger studies need to be done to determine how these results might apply to the larger population."
       Source:-  Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV