Abstract
Asthma and other allergic disorders, such as atopic dermatitis and food allergies, are common chronic health problems in childhood. The rapid rise in the prevalence of these conditions registered over the last few decades has stressed the need to identify the modifiable risk factors associated with the development of these diseases. Breast milk, recognized as the gold standard for healthy growth and development of the newborn, is one of the major factors associated with a lower incidence of allergic and infectious diseases in childhood and young adulthood. Although the underlying mechanisms for these effects are not well understood, breastfeeding leads to immune system maturation. In this narrative review, we summarize existing evidence on breastfeeding and human milk composition in relation to allergic disease prevention or development.
Highlights
Over 300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma, while allergic rhinitis and other allergic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis (AD) and food allergies, affect between 10 and 30% of the global population [1,2]
From an evolutionary and nutritional standpoint, human milk is recognized as the gold standard of nourishment for human infants in the first months of life, because it is a species-specific food, adapted to provide what is needed for optimal growth and survival to the offspring, with a unique composition designed by nature to better respond to the biological and psychological needs of the newborn
The most glaring discrepancy between intake and Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) is for vitamin D: infants may synthesize it from sunlight exposure, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations target postnatal vitamin D supplementation of breastfed infants
Summary
Over 300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma, while allergic rhinitis and other allergic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis (AD) and food allergies, affect between 10 and 30% of the global population [1,2]. The rapid rise in the prevalence of these conditions registered over the last few decades, and their negative impacts on health-related quality of life, has stressed the need to identify the environmental and modifiable risk factors associated with the development of these diseases Explanations for this rapid increase in allergies are not entirely clear, though the “hygiene hypothesis” remains the most widely cited theory [3]. Human milk has been shown to protect against early respiratory and other infections, due to its nutritional composition and content in non-nutritive bioactive factors i.e., immunoglobulins, vitamin A, and transforming growthfactors These factors promote the gut mucosal barrier integrity and protect against severe conditions, such as necrotizing enterocolitis, diabetes, obesity, infections, and allergic diseases, as well as reduce the risk of health-related problems later in life [8,9]. Issues related to study design and analytical methods greatly complicate the interpretation of studies
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