Breast feeding and allergy

Abstract

The importance of mother milk for nutrition of infant and for its protection from infection is generally known. Soluble and cellular immune factors play an important role in the complex nature of human colostrum. Nevertheless, it is not clear if and how these factors are influenced by maternal immune disorders and what are the consequences for the breastfed infant. Atopic disease constitutes an actual problem nowadays. There is increasing evidence that atopic reactivity is triggered in early infancy and additional factors like breastfeeding are of importance. Protective effect of breastfeeding in atopy and athma prevention is not always reliable especially if breast feeding mothers are atopic.