Breastfeeding patterns in infants are associated with a later diagnosis of autism Spectrum disorder.
Longer exclusive breastfeeding cut later autism odds in half in this Israeli cohort.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Doctors asked parents to remember how they fed their babies. They compared kids later diagnosed with autism to kids who were not. The study looked at breastfeeding length and when solids started.
What they found
Babies who only drank breast milk for more than one year had half the chance of later autism. Starting solids after six months raised the chance. Longer breastfeeding linked to lower odds of diagnosis.
How this fits with other research
Braam et al. (2018) found low mom melatonin also lowers autism odds. Together the papers show both pregnancy and baby habits matter.
Guisso et al. (2018) saw feeding trouble raised odds in Lebanon. The new Israeli data agree: early feeding choices stay important.
Waddington et al. (2020) showed autistic kids sleep worse. Leena’s team adds that how they were fed as babies may be part of the story.
Why it matters
You can’t change genes, but you can guide feeding. Tell new parents every month of exclusive breastfeeding helps. Flag babies who start solids late and watch for signs. Share the sleep link when families ask why feeding routines matter.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Breastfeeding is associated with medical and developmental benefits. This study aimed to assess associations between nutritional patterns in the first year of life and the likelihood of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 270 children diagnosed with ASD (cases) and 500 neurotypical children (controls) matched to cases by sex, ethnicity, and birth date (± 3 months) were included in this retrospective case-control study. Both groups were ascertained from children born between 2014 and 2017 whose development/nutrition were monitored at mother-child health clinics in southern Israel. Conditional logistic regression was used to determine the independent association of nutritional patterns with ASD while adjusting for socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Both exclusive and partial breastfeeding modes were associated with decreased odds of ASD diagnosis (aOR = 0.221, 95%CI = 0.136-0.360; aOR = 0.494, 95%CI = 0.328-0.743, respectively). A breastfeeding duration of >12 months was associated with lower ASD odds (aOR = 0.418, 95%CI = 0.204-0.855), while the introduction of solids after 6 months of age was associated with higher ASD odds than the introduction of solids at 6 months (aOR = 2.455, 95%CI = 1.116-4.201). These findings suggest that a longer period of exclusive breastfeeding is associated with a subsequent reduced likelihood of ASD diagnosis, thus reiterating the importance of proper post-natal nutrition for infant neurodevelopment.
Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 2024 · doi:10.1002/aur.3211