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Breast-feeding of more than 6 months could prevent childhood lymphoid malignancies, especially for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

09-13-2006

According to recent research from Turkey, "Whether breast-feeding is associated with decreased incidence of the lymphoid malignancies in children is uncertain. We evaluated childhood acute leukemia and lymphoma in relation to duration of breast-feeding. We investigated this issue in a case-control study comprising 137 patients, aged 1 to 16 years, with ALL, AML, Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in addition to 146 controls matched for age and sex."

"The median duration of breast-feeding among patients was shorter than that of controls (10 vs 12 months)," explained S. Altinkaynak and colleagues, Inonu University. "Patients with ALL and AML had shorter mean breast-feeding duration compared with healthy children (p=.001 and p<.001, respectively). The shortest mean breast-feeding duration was noted in the children with AML.

"Breast-feeding for a duration of 0 to 6 months, when compared with feeding of longer than 6 months, was associated with increased odds ratios (ORs) for ALL [OR=2.44], 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.17-5.101, AML (OR=6.67 95% CI=1.32-33.69), Hodgkin lymphoma (OR 3.33, 95% CI=0.60-18.54), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (OR 1.90, 95% CI=0.68-5.34) and overall (OR=2.54, 95% CI=1.51-4.26)."

The researchers concluded, "Our findings suggest that breast-feeding of more than 6 months is protective against childhood lymphoid malignancies, especially for AML and ALL."

Altinkaynak and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (Breast-feeding duration and childhood acute leukemia and lymphomas in a sample of Turkish children. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 2006;42(5):568-572).

For additional information, contact M.A. Selimoglu, Inonu University, Tip Fak, Dept. Pediatrics, Division Pediatrics Gastroenterology Hepatology & Nutrition, Faculty Med, TR-44280 Malatya, Turkey.

This article was prepared by Clinical Oncology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Clinical Oncology Week via NewsRx.com.