Wendy H. Oddy, PhD, from the University of Western Australia and colleagues investigated the relationship between the level of the cytokine TGF-ß1 in breast milk and wheeze in infancy to determine whether breast milk has a protective effect against developing asthma symptoms.
It has recently been shown that breast milk contains cytokines, the most abundant of which is TGF-ß1. It is believed that TGF-ß1 has a potent immunosuppressive action that may prevent sensitization to food allergens. Researchers also believe that TGF-ß1 enhances infant lung development and helps to reduce susceptibility to respiratory infections.
In the study, data on breast feeding and infant wheeze were collected from birth to 1 year from 243 mothers participating in the Infant Immune Study in Tucson, Arizona. Researchers showed that the dose of TGF-ß1 received from breast milk is significantly associated with infant wheeze, suggesting that at least some of the protective effect of breast feeding against wheeze might be attributable to the presence of this cytokine in the milk.
Previous studies have shown that breast feeding infants for at least four months provided them protection from developing asthma. However, the current study is the first to study the effects of a cytokine in breast milk on the health of an infant.
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 6
I have 4 kids... i bottle fed my first who does not have asthma.. .my 3 i bf do have asthma.. my 10 year old the worst.. the other 2 seem the have outgrown it.
Really, I am ALL FOR breast feeding. But you have to look at these studies with a critical eye. Since asthma runs in families, could it be that some families simply make more TGF-ß1? Mom makes more, so it spills into her breast milk. The baby makes her own TGF-ß1, which would protect her from asthma whether she breast fed or formula fed.
An interesting addition to the study would be to look at each baby's blood level of TGF-ß1. Perhaps it's the baby's own TGF-ß1 that is the real protector, and babies with high TGF-ß1 are more likely to have moms whose TGF-ß1 is also high.
I wonder how high TGF-ß1 is in formula fed babies with and without asthma.
Kudos for looking at the research though.
KEEP IT UP!
- Dr Mike
pediacast.org
Here's a click and another 10 towards your next cash-out