Breastfeeding during the first six months reduces risk of Crohn’s disease: Montreal study
He stated that early life, particularly the first three years, plays a crucial role in immune system and gut microbiota development.
Montreal researchers have found that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby’s life may lower their risk of developing Crohn’s disease later.
They also discovered that introducing solid foods between three to six months could increase this risk.
Canisius Fantodji, the study’s lead author and a doctoral student in epidemiology and immunology at INRS, reported a significant reduction in Crohn’s risk among participants who were exclusively breastfed for at least six months.
This link between early solid foods and Crohn’s marks a novel finding in research on inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).
The study also noted that breastfeeding does not affect the risk of another IBD, ulcerative colitis.
However, antibiotic use during the first six months showed a reduced risk for both Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, while exposure to secondhand smoke in infancy correlated with a 23% higher risk of Crohn’s, especially in adulthood.
Dr. Prévost Jantchou of CHU Sainte-Justine explained that IBD affects approximately one in 100 Canadians, emphasizing the need for preventative strategies alongside treatment.
He stated that early life, particularly the first three years, plays a crucial role in immune system and gut microbiota development.
The study included about 2,700 Quebec residents, with nearly 1,000 Crohn’s patients, 600 ulcerative colitis patients, and 1,000 healthy participants as a control group, as explained by Marie-Claude Rousseau, Fantodji’s thesis supervisor.
Data on various lifestyle factors, such as breastfeeding and exposure to smoke, was analyzed to understand their influence on gut microbiota, which plays a key role in immune function.
According to Dr. Jantchou, the intestinal microbiota’s role in IBD is substantial, as imbalances can trigger excessive immune responses.
Since IBD remains incurable, the study’s focus on modifiable factors, like early diet and environmental exposures, offers valuable insights for preventative approaches.
The research findings, published in Digestive and Liver Disease, suggest these factors could impact other autoimmune diseases influenced by the microbiota, such as asthma and eczema, Jantchou added.
