> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Breastfeeding prevents asthma-related symptoms
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/breastfeeding_prevents_asthma-related_symptoms_0724110921/
- Published: 2011-07-24T22:21:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:44:03.000Z
- Description: Among more than 5,000 Dutch children followed to age four, those never breastfed were about 1.4 and 1.5 times more likely to wheeze or have persistent phlegm than children breastfed for six months. Early solids or other milk also tracked with more asthma-related symptoms.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Food, Nutrition, Asthma, Breastfeeding, #vivvo-import

By David Liu, PH.D.

Sunday July 24, 2011 (foodconsumer.org) -- Exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months of life reduces the odds for children to experience asthma-related symptoms in early childhood, according to a study published on July 21, 2011 in the European Respiratory Journal.

The study shows children who had never been breastfed were at higher risk of wheezing, breathing stoutness, dry coughing and phlegm during the first four years in their childhood, compared to those who were breastfed for a period of at least six months.

For the study, Dr Agnes Sonnenschein-van der Voort at Erasmus Medical Center in The Netherlands and colleagues surveyed 5,000-plus children through a questionnaire to see if they were ever breastfed, when breastfeeding discontinued and whether solids or other types of milk were used during the first 12 months.

The children were also followed up at the age of one, two, three and four years to see if they ever experienced any asthma-related symptoms.

The researchers found children who were never breastfed were 1.4 and 1.5 times more likely to experience wheezing and persistent phlegm, compared to those who were breastfed for the first six months.

Children who were fed solid foods or other types of milk during the first four months were at an increased risk of wheezing, breathing shortness, dry coughing and persistent phlegm during the first four years, compared with those who were exclusively breastfed for the first four months in life.

Longer periods of breastfeeding were inversely associated with fewer episodes of wheezing and asthma-related symptom occurred earlier in children who were breastfed for shorter periods or not exclusively.

Breast milk from many breastfeeding women has been found contaminated with many types of pollutants including flame retardants used in many household consumer products, additives or estrogenic compounds used in plastics and pesticides. 

Still, American Academy of Pediatrics say the mothers' breast milk is the best food for their infants. It recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and breastfeeding should last for 12 months or longer if both the infant and the mother desire to do so. 

Breastfeeding provides a myriad of health benefits. For instance, infants who are breastfed are at lower risk of infections in childhood, obesity, diabetes and probably cancer as well in their adulthood among other things.

Photo credit: wikipedia.org