Document Detail


Differential gender response to respiratory infections and to the protective effect of breast milk in preterm infants.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18519454     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: The protective role of breastfeeding against severe acute lung disease in infants is well established, but its mechanism is unclear. Most hypotheses assume that breastfeeding confers similar passive protection to every infant; however, a few observations have suggested that the benefits of breast milk against severe lung disease may differ according to gender. The objective of this study was to determine whether the effect of breastfeeding on susceptibility to severe acute lung disease among infants at high risk is different for girls and boys. METHODS: A cohort was analyzed prospectively by use of 2 different strategies: (1) predictors of first episode of rehospitalization by univariate and multivariate analyses using robust Poisson regression and (2) mean number of rehospitalizations between groups using multiple regression negative binomial models. RESULTS: A total of 119 high-risk, very low birth weight infants were enrolled. Breast milk protected girls but not boys against severe acute lung disease. The interaction between breastfeeding and gender was clinically and statistically significant, even after adjustment for variables that can affect severity of acute lung disease. Disease was most severe in formula-fed girls (versus formula-fed boys). CONCLUSIONS: Breastfeeding decreased the risk for severe acute lung disease in girls but not in boys. These findings suggest that breast milk protection is not universally conferred by passive transfer of humoral immunity (which should be gender indifferent), show that respiratory symptoms may be amenable to nonspecific modulation, and identify nonbreastfed preterm infant girls as an at-risk group for severe acute lung disease.
Authors:
M Inés Klein; Eduardo Bergel; Luz Gibbons; Silvina Coviello; Gabriela Bauer; Alicia Benitez; M Elina Serra; M Florencia Delgado; Guillermina A Melendi; Susana Rodríguez; Steven R Kleeberger; Fernando P Polack
Related Documents :
12434894 - Exhaled and nasal nitric oxide in mechanically ventilated preterm and term newborns.
3513104 - Aerosol delivery to the rabbit lung with an infant ventilator.
4737864 - The postnatal development of lymphoreticular aggregates and lymph nodes in infants' lungs.
7644774 - Functional residual capacity to thoracic gas volume (frc:tgv) ratio in healthy neonates.
2613114 - Mortality of wild and captive chimpanzees.
17129984 - The role of maternal depressed mood and behavioural soothing on infant response to rout...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Pediatrics     Volume:  121     ISSN:  1098-4275     ISO Abbreviation:  Pediatrics     Publication Date:  2008 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-06-03     Completed Date:  2008-08-11     Revised Date:  2009-11-18    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0376422     Medline TA:  Pediatrics     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  e1510-6     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins University, 615 N Wolfe St, E5202, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Breast Feeding*
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature, Diseases / prevention & control*
Male
Prospective Studies
Respiratory Tract Infections / prevention & control*
Sex Factors
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
AI-054952/AI/NIAID NIH HHS; Z01 ES100557-06/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS
Comments/Corrections

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Accurate parental classification of overweight adolescents' weight status: does it matter?
Next Document:  Determinants of height in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa.