The impact of breastfeeding on the risk of developing asthma and
allergies has been discussed for a long time. Researchers have found that, in
fact, breastfeeding may increase the risk of developing hay fever and eczema,
although it does not have a clear effect on the risk of developing asthma.
The risk of developing asthma and allergies depends on genes, environmental factors
and lifestyle. The scientific community has already established many risk
factors for life, such as smoking. However, studies on breastfeeding have shown
inconsistent results. Many studies indicate that it has a protective effect
against asthma and allergies, while other studies have noted an increased risk
of developing diseases in connection with such feeding. Current work examines
the effect of breastfeeding on asthma, hay fever and eczema. It includes data
from more than 330,000 middle-aged people in the UK, making it the largest
study of its kind to date. The data also show that higher socioeconomic status
reduces the risk of developing asthma by increasing the risk of developing hay
fever. These results are consistent with the “hygiene hypothesis”
which states that growing up in a cleaner environment increases the risk of
allergies due to lack of exposure to various micro-organisms in early
childhood, among other things. This study also indicated that high body weight
increases the risk of developing asthma, hay fever, and eczema, while the risk
decreases in individuals with higher birth weights. The work is observational
and does not allow for clinical recommendations. In such studies, there may
always be underlying factors, about which researchers have no information, that
are the true causes of the observed effects. It is well known that
breastfeeding has a positive effect on the health of the child. Although there
is no protective effect of breastfeeding on the risk of developing asthma or
allergies, these results should not be used to recommend or discourage
breastfeeding, as only its effect on allergies and asthma was studied in this
study.