Abstract
—Alan H. Jobe, MD, PhD A ll will agree that breastfeeding is the optimal source of nutrition for the healthy term infant. The adverse associations with not breastfeeding have been extensively discussed. In this issue of The Journal, a new association is identified: a dose response effect of breastfeeding for a decreased risk of epilepsy. This study from the Danish National Birth Cohort includes large numbers of children from a population with a high rate of breastfeeding. The correlation between breastfeeding and decreased epilepsy is striking, but the explanation for the association is presently unknown. The authors propose the biologically plausible benefits of the nutritional value of human milk on brain growth and development as a likely explanation. However, the reasons for mothers to not breastfeed are not known in this cohort, and associated illness in the mothers or childrenmay contribute to the findings. This epidemiologic study certainly is hypothesis-generating. Article page 924<
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
