Babies who were breastfed for at least six months had a 19 per cent lower risk of going on to develop leukaemia in childhood than those who were breastfed for a shorter period or not at all, research found.

Scientists said they made the findings after reviewing 18 different studies, while a separate analysis of 15 studies found that ever being breastfed compared with never being breastfed was associated with an 11 per cent lower risk of childhood leukaemia.

The researchers, at the University of Haifa in Israel, suggested more should be done to educate women on the health benefits of breastfeeding, while there should also be efforts to make it easier for women to do it in public.

Leukaemia is the most common cancer diagnosed in childhood and accounts for about 30 per cent of all childhood cancers but little is known about its cause.

Breastfeeding is recommended as the healthiest option for feeding babies up to the age of six months, but many parents feed with formula instead.

The amount of women who breastfeed in the UK is increasing, according to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), with 55 per cent now breastfeeding at six weeks and 34 per cent at six months, but younger mothers and those living in areas of higher deprivation are the least likely to breastfeed.

The research is published online in JAMA Paediatrics, with the study authors suggesting several biological mechanisms of breast milk may explain their results, including that it contains many immunologically active components and anti-inflammatory defence mechanisms that influence the development of an infant’s immune system.

"Because the primary goal of public health is prevention of morbidity, health care professionals should be taught the potential health benefits of breastfeeding and given tools to assist mothers with breastfeeding, whether themselves or with referrals to others who can help," they said.

"The many potential preventive health benefits of breastfeeding should also be communicated openly to the general public, not only to mothers, so breastfeeding can be more socially accepted and facilitated."

Colin Michie, chairman of the RCPCH’s Nutrition Committee, welcomed the findings.

He said: "The benefits of breastfeeding to populations of children are well established. Breastfed babies are less likely to contract chest and ear infections, suffer from sickness and diarrhoea or become obese.

"Earlier this year, a study highlighted that breastfeeding was associated with better school performance, a higher IQ and higher incomes in later life.

"So this latest development is not only a very important discovery, but further adds weight to the benefits of breastfeeding."

Janet Fyle, professional policy adviser at the Royal College of Midwives, said: "This research underpins yet again why breastfeeding should be encouraged and supported. It is without doubt one of the most positive ways for a woman to give her newborn the best possible start in life.

"Breastfeeding is a fundamental contributor to better public health; it lays the foundations for better health and has a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of mothers and their babies.

"The beneficial effects of breastfeeding last a lifetime. Given the increasing focus on public health, we should be doing all we can to encourage it. This includes investment in staff."

 

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