Childhood lymphoid malignancies protected against by breast-feeding of more than 6 months

07-28-2006

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

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.

Publisher contact information for the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition is: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 530 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621, USA.

Keywords: Malatya, Turkey, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Breast Feeding, Epidemiology, Gastroenterology, Hodgkin Lymphoma, Non Hodgkin Lymphoma, Oncology, Pediatric Cancer Therapy.

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