Breastfeeding does not protect against asthma or allergies

According to a study conducted in Belarus by researchers at McGill University in Montreal, with 13,889 mothers and children, breast-feeding does not prevent children from developing asthma or allergies.

The Belarus has been selected as maternity wards have not yet adopted the procedures focused on the well-being of infants, commonly used in most western countries. As part of the study PROBIT (promotion of breastfeeding intervention trial), a randomized control group of maternity hospitals and polyclinics affiliates continued conventional practices while those in the experimental group received training to encourage mothers to improve their technical and the duration of breastfeeding.

After comparing the results obtained in the two groups, the researchers concluded that prolonged breastfeeding had no impact on the development of asthma and allergies in children. Dr. Kramer of McGill University adds that "not only the test results led to the conclusion that there was no protective effect, but they have also suggested an increased risk of allergy skin tests positive . "

The researcher notes, however, that "the Belarus displays rates of allergies and asthma much less important than countries like Canada," but he believes that the results are similar to those obtained in studies of non-randomized cohorts in New Zealand, where allergies and asthma are more prevalent than in Canada, suggesting that the context of the study did not feature could explain the results.