Breast milk may help reduce allergies …

FDA Consumer, Jan, 2000

Breast milk may help reduce allergies ... Breast-feeding babies for their first four months may protect against asthma and allergies. A study by Australian researchers examined 2,187 newborns from birth until 6 years, and those who are exclusively breast-fed for the first four months of life were significantly less likely to develop asthma and allergies at 6 than children who began drinking other types of milk before 4 months of age.

The findings are consistent with other studies showing breast-feeding benefits. Breast milk appears to contain important nutritional, anti-inflammatory or other substances that may help guard against asthma. (British Medical Journal, September 1999)