2006 has been a great year for research on the benefits of breastfeeding, and I've compiled a list of this year's findings here. Next week I'll be doing a summary of the year's breastfeeding news. Enjoy!
In 2006 we learned that breastfeeding means:
The potential to save 1 million lives a year. As I wrote here, a British study found that early breastfeeding could save nearly a quarter of the 4 million babies in the developing world who now die within the first month of life. The study also found that the risk of neonatal death was fourfold higher in children given milk-based fluids or solids in addition to breast milk.
Better mental health. As I noted here, a study found that children who were breastfed for six months or longer had significantly lower risk for mental health problems such as delinquent, aggressive, and anti-social behavior, and were overall are less depressed, anxious or withdrawn later in childhood.
Fewer ear infections, even when there is a genetic predisposition. As I wrote about here, researchers have found that breastfeeding can mitigate the effect of a genetic tendency toward ear infections. This protection against ear infections was found to extend into childhood, long after breastfeeding had stopped.
Less obesity and diabetes, even when there is a family history of the condition. As I reported here, a study found that children who are breastfed are less likely to become obese and develop diabetes - even if their mothers have those conditions.
Fewer gross motor delays: One study found that infants who were breastfed were at significantly lowered risk of having delays in gross motor coordination. The study found that infants who had been exclusively formula fed were 50% more likely to have gross motor coordination delays than infants who had been breastfed exclusively for at least 4 months.
Less chronic bed wetting: A study of children aged 5 to 13 who had chronic bed-wetting problems which were not explained by a physical cause, found that breastfeeding longer than 3 months may protect against bed wetting during childhood.
Less stress as older children. As I reported here, a study found that babies who were breastfed, even briefly, had better ability to cope with stress as older children. The researchers found that children of divorce and separation who were breastfed were less likely to exhibit symptoms of anxiety than children of divorce and separation who were not breastfed, even when controlling for other factors.
Better aligned teeth. A study from Puerto Rico concluded that breastfeeding is a factor that contributes to the prevention of malocclusion of teeth.
The potential to cut hospitalizations of babies in half: A study from Spain found that, among children not fully breastfed, 30% of hospital admissions could be avoided for each additional month of full breastfeeding. The authors estimate that 100% full breastfeeding among 4-month old infants would avoid 56% of hospital admissions in infants under one year of age.
Protection against eczema and asthma. Another study found that breastfeeding for 4 months reduced the risk for eczema and asthma at 4 years of age.
Better developmental outcomes for extremely low birthweight babies. A study tracking the development of extremely low birth weight infants showed a increase in developmental scores among those who were breastfed compared to those who were not.
Less respiratory infections. A study found a lower risk of respiratory tract infection including pneumonia and recurrent otitis media in children who were exclusively breastfed for 6 months, compared to those who were breastfed for 4 months.
Reduced risk of cholera when mother is affected. A study showed that a mother who has cholera and continues to breastfeed provides better protection for her infant against cholera than an afflicted mother who does not breastfeed.
Better ability to cope with painful routine medical procedures. A metanalysis study showed that babies who were breastfed during painful routine medical procedures had less of an increase in heart rate, reduced proportion of crying time, and reduced duration of crying compared to babies who were soothed with swaddling or a pacifier.
Less conflict at mealtime. A study from the U.K indicates that breastfeeding was associated with maternal reports of less negative mealtime interactions and less conflict at mealtimes.
Lower risk of endometrial cancer for mothers. A study from Japan suggests that breastfeeding reduces mothers' risk of developing endometrial cancer.
No effect on intelligence? One study that received a lot of attention this year was on the relationship between breastfeeding and later intelligence. This topic has been studied repeatedly, and the latest study indicated that breastfeeding had little or no impact on a child's intelligence once maternal intelligence is taken into account. This study was somewhat controversial however, and you can see a rebuttal here, which notes that the researchers failed to take the amount of breastfeeding into account, and notes that "that a table in the study lists a significant association with intelligence for children breastfed more than 29 weeks, but that finding was not mentioned in the text of the paper."
Have I missed a study on the benefits of breastfeeding from 2006? If you think so, please email or leave a comment on the blog.
