The proven benefits of breastfeeding remain too strong to be discredited by a Norwegian professor's recent claims that formula milk was just as beneficial to babies, Maltese childcare professionals insist.

"This study fails to take into account the significant reduction in the risk of infections that breastfed babies experience when compared with formula-fed infants," consultant paediatrician Victor Grech said.

In his controversial research, Sven Carlsen said breastfed children were not healthier because they were fed naturally but because conditions in their mother's womb tended to be better.

He found that high levels of male hormones in the womb affected both the flow of nutrients transmitted to the baby and the mother's ability to breastfeed. This suggested that babies who were not breastfed had also been subjected to poorer conditions in the womb and it was this that affected their health, not the lack of their mother's milk, Prof. Carlsen said.

His research, published in this month's edition of the Norwegian journal Acta Obstestricia and Gynecologia Scandinavica, concluded that baby formula was as good as breast milk.

The only benefit from breastfeeding supported by genuine evidence was a "small IQ advantage", he said, after reviewing data from more than 50 international studies looking at the relationship between breastfeeding and health.

Prof. Carlsen's conclusions were criticised by UK health experts who described it as "irresponsible and overblown" because it was an untested theory.

In Malta, childcare professionals also feel this theory is riddled with discrepancies.

Helen Borg, a midwife who heads the Breastfeeding Clinic, pointed out that the study did not mention the reduction of infections and did not speak about the benefits to mothers as research had shown that breastfeeding reduced the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer.

"Many of the health benefits of breastfeeding are dose-related, which means the longer a mother breastfeeds, the more protection is passed on to the baby... I accept that the uterine environment does have an impact on the health of the baby, however, this does not have an impact on the benefits of breastfeeding. There is too much evidence that points towards the benefits of breastfeeding to be knocked down by one study," she said, adding the clinic would keep advocating in favour of this practice.

Prof. Grech said the study assumed mothers who did not breastfeed failed to do so simply because they couldn't.

"It does not appear to take into account the fact that some women do not breastfeed because they do not want to or cannot because of their circumstances, for example the need to return quickly to work," he said.

Women who found it difficult to breastfeed eventually managed with the assistance of specialist, he said.

He said that Prof. Carlsen's study also failed to take into account the significant reduction in the risk of infections that breastfed babies experienced.

"Breastfeeding may also help to slow down the current obesity epidemic as the slower growth that comes with breastfeeding is healthier and reduces the risk of childhood obesity. In addition, breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the incidence of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, eczema, leukaemia, asthma and breast cancer in lactating mothers."

Louise Bugeja, a midwifery coordinator from Parent Craft within Mater Dei Hospital, said the study "makes no sense".

"Breast milk is nature's way to nurture and protect babies to ensure survival," she said, adding it was packed with antibodies and substances aimed at warding off diseases.

The benefits of the natural milk were evident in the fact that formula milk tried to imitate it as closely as possible.

"You can't get any better than breast milk," she insisted adding that mothers needed more support to breastfeed.

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