Breastfeeding Lowers Infant’s Risk of Developing Bowel Disease Later, Study Reports

I wish I could say this was accurate. My mother breastfed all of us and sadly, my sister and I still both ended up with UC.

I was breast fed as were my siblings. I have UC and one sibling has crohns. Breastfeeding correlates with lots of other factors, so who knows if it's causal or just a correlation. And even if there is a causal relationship, it's certainly not always protective. Also, once you have UC you're usually on medication that means you can't breastfeed, so this is somewhat useless information for anyone with UC and kids, frankly.

I guess it depends on what meds you’re taking? I breastfed two of my children while taking Asacol. My OBGYN, gastroenterologist, and the kids’ pediatrician all said it was safe.

These studies are just more wood on the pile, knowledge is a good thing. It seems many of you want to argue the studies down based on your own situation. Neither science or knowledge work that way, they are just pieces of the puzzle. Moving forward is the only path if we are ever going to get a handle on these diseases.

Good point, Q.

I breastfed my kids, and especially my younger one, until he was a toddler (partly because the hormones of pregnancy and breastfeeding put me into remission.) But that younger one was the one who developed pancolitis at age 13. So, who knows.

I don't want kids, but i would be worried about passing the bad genetics if I did. I would breastfeed to prevent whatever, but bad genetics aren't going away. I think the majority of people attempt to breastfeed these days. There was a period in the 70s/80s where it was considered commonplace not to, but those days are long gone. I guess perhaps I can thank my mom for the UC, and the bad attitude. haha. jk, I don't blame her and actually it doesn't matter.

I agree that moms should breastfeed, if possible. I wonder what would happen if they adjusted these studies to account for household income. I also wonder how wealth influences the decision to breastfeed and how wealth affects the dietary patterns and healthcare of people in Asia, who reportedly have an 80% decreased incidence of Crohn's if breastfed for a year, according to the article. I hate to say it, but I don't put much faith in this "study" at all. Researchers relied on participants to recall if, and how long, they were breastfed. I can't remember where I put my car keys this morning, never mind how long I was breastfed/if I was exclusively breastfed as an infant.

@JJ-3 there is a huge increase in childhood IBD at the moment, not to mention incidence has doubled over the past decade, if memory serves me correctly, so I doubt we will see a decrease in the near future without scientific breakthroughs.

I wonder how long they followed the subjects. Many people don't develop IBD until they are older.