Press Release Summary: While breastfeeding has well been known to be good for babies, and Argentinean study has not found that breastfeeding premature baby girls reduces the risk of chest infections.
Press Release Body: Premature girls who received formula milk were eight times more likely to require hospital treatment for respiratory illnesses. While breastfeeding premature baby girls was found to have a positive impact in preventing chest infections, the study found that breastfeeding had no impact on premature boys.
The research was carried out by Dr M Inés Klein at Fundación INFANT, Buenos Aires. The study was based on a small group of premature low weight babies and looked at the proportion that required hospital treatment for bronchiolitis, which is a common chest infection in babies aged less than a year old.
M Inés Klein, the lead author of the research said of the results, \"A better understanding of the protective components in breast milk is important for strategically improving maternal nutrition\"
The researchers concluded that non breastfeed premature girls may be a group that is particularly susceptible to chest infections, and the results are only applicable to low birth weight premature infants. As the researchers say, "the protective role of breastfeeding against severe respiratory infections in healthy term infants is well established". The benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby are well established and breastfeeding should continue to be promoted as the healthiest start in life for both girls and boys.
Although the conclusion that there is a difference between premature boys and girls requires further study as does the reliability of the findings outside of Buenos Aires. The study was conducted in clinics that cared for low socio economic groups, which may have a higher instance of chest infections due to environmental factors. The basic premise that baby's benefit from breastfeeding is not open for debate, breastfeeding for boys or girls is best.
This story was first reported in the The Guardian, on June 2 2008
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