Breastfeeding can overcome genetic tendency toward ear infections.

Just last week my husband and I were remarking at the fact that our son hasn't had a single infection of any kind in his 3 1/2 years of life.  I remember having lots of ear infections as a child (and faking a few to get out of going to school), and I was expecting our son to have the same experience.

That's why I was interested to see the news this week that researchers have found that breastfeeding can mitigate the effect of a genetic tendency toward ear infections.  Recurrent ear infections, as you know, can lead to hearing problems and learning difficulties.  They're also really hard on parents and not fun for kids.

This month's edition of the journal Pediatrics reports that researchers at the University of Texas identified small variations in two genes which cause greater production of inflammatory signaling molecules and reduce immune system effectiveness.  Having these genetic variations signals an increased risk for ear infections. 

But, Science Daily reports, they found that, "the effect could be counteracted with a practice long known to increase immune resistance: breast-feeding."

"This is a major finding, that breast-feeding neutralized the effect even in kids who had all the genetic polymorphisms," Patel said. "Not only that, they were protected from recurrent infections even later in childhood, long after they stopped breast-feeding."

This is one study of many this year to have drawn a link between breastfeeding and both physical and mental health.  For studies I've written about since September, check out the category "New research on breastfeeding."

I've been itching to do a post about all of the incredible research on the benefits of breastfeeding released earlier this year. I'll get to it in the next few weeks, so check back soon!

Comments

[Heather]

I too hoped that my breastfeeding would lead to fewer ear infections in my kids. Both my husband and I had many as children. I also used them to get out of school once I learned that the school nurse would automatically call your parents.

Unfortunately for us, my kids had it worse than both of their parents combined. Katie had almost constant ear infections from 4 months until 2 yr, when we had tubes put in. She had a second set at 3 and a half yrs. Mikey started to show the same tendency so we put his tubes in at 11 months. At 13 months, we've still had issues with infections but they are draining and easier to clear. He has been drainage free for over a week. Yeah!!! Maybe he'll sleep!!!???

I'm sure working full time and having my kids in a germ factory that they call daycare is the main culprit. I know I'm still doing the best possible for my kids. I just hate to see them suffer.

[Tanya Lieberman]

Oh, that sounds really hard. That's the thing about these kind of findings - they tell you something in the aggregate that may apply to your situation, but may not. It doesn't make that much sense that I was breastfed and had lots of ear infections, either, though it may have helped with my son.

I like the fact that you know that you're doing the best possible thing for your kids. As you know, you're protecting them against so many other health problems (the list gets longer every year). Hope that things continue to get better!

[LadyLMP]

My daugher is 3 years and 2 months and has had one ear infection- I have to assume breastfeeding has played a part!

[Ashlea]

My husband had many ear infections as a child and had tubes in twice. I, or I should say my parents, were fortunate that I had ONE ear infection my whole life. I was determined that I was going to breastfeed our son as long as physically possible, which ended up being about 8.5 months, and that he was going to be infection clean. When he got his first ear infection at 7.5 months (right after we began suplementing with formula), I was in denial and I waited a week or so before I took him to the doctor. We have since then had an ear infection each month and a busted ear drum, which actually cleared everything up for about 5 weeks. Due to his recent ear infections we are having tubes inserted in 3 days. I try not to beat myself up over this, but I wonder if my breastfeeding helped any with his ears. Would he be more likely to have had ear infections before he did? I look forward to the tubes and the "calm" it should bring back to my life, but I just don't want to have sickly children like my husband was.