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Breast feeding does not protect against atopy

BMJ 2002; 325 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.325.7366.675/b (Published 28 September 2002) Cite this as: BMJ 2002;325:675
  1. Susan Mayor
  1. London

    Breast feeding does not protect children against atopy and may even increase the risk, suggests a long term study.

    The study monitored 1037 children from a cohort of 1139 born in Dunedin, New Zealand, between April 1972 and March 1973. They were assessed every two to five years with respiratory questionnaires, pulmonary function tests, bronchial challenge, and allergy skin tests. History of breast feeding was independently recorded in early childhood.

    The results showed that 49% of the children were breast fed for four weeks or longer. Breastfed …

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