Λεξικό .. Breast feeding and allergy

For many decades, breast feeding was advocated to prevent allergy because cow's milk was good to feed cows and breast milk was good to feed man. This was the assertion of many investigators, including John Soothill in the U.K. in 1972, he proposed the overstimulation concept. That is, when you feed children, or a baby, with liters of cow's milk, the baby may become sensitized. On the other hand, the late Helen Jarrett, in 1979 put forward the opposite concept i.e. minimal amounts of allergen can sensitize babies whereas large doses of allergens will induce tolerance: this was shown in rats at that time and confirmed in man later. Other studies support the idea that breast feeding could delay the onset of allergy, but these studies failed to demonstrate any protective effect of breast feeding in the long term.

So in 1990, was said that breast feeding may help but is not the Gold Standard. Breast feeding even for a short period, was clearly associated with a lower incidence of wheeze, prolonged colds, diarrhoea, and vomiting [1]. It seemed that the duration of breast feeding was less important than whether or not the child had been breast-fed at all.  Infants presenting with manifestations of atopic disease including in particular atopic dermatitis, colic, colitis, or diarrhoea and with a history of exclusive breast feeding should be considered likely candidates for maternal dietary proteinated disease.

The presence in breast milk of ovalbumin, β-lactoglobulin and gliadin has been demonstrated by sensitive immunoassay. Anaphylaxis associated with breast-feeding is a rare but potentially life-threatening event. Three cases of postpartum breast-feeding anaphylaxis have been reported. Although the pathophysiology is unclear, it may involve the decrease in progesterone and rise of prolactin causing mast cell degranulation. Avoidance of nonsteroidal antiinflammatories and prophylaxis with corticosteroids and antihistamines may offer the best protection [2].

References

Merrett TG, Burr ML, Butland BK, Merrett J, Miskelly FG, Vaughan-Williams E. Infant feeding and allergy: 12-month prospective study of 500 babies born into allergic families.

Ann Allergy. 1988 Dec;61(6 Pt 2):13-20

Shank JJ, Olney SC, Lin FL, McNamara MF. Recurrent postpartum anaphylaxis with breast-feeding. Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Aug;114(2 Pt 2):415-6.