一项新研究完全颠覆了我们之前所认为的患哮喘（Asthma）的妈妈进行母乳喂养会增加孩子患病风险的观念，它被发表在American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine（AJRCCM）期刊上。这项研究发现，母乳喂养更能增强孩子的肺功能，即使妈妈本身就患有哮喘。以下为大家详细介绍母乳喂养与孩子肺健康之间的关联。
哮喘是最常见的慢性儿童疾病，美国过敏、哮喘及免疫学会（the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology）称。目前，大约有九百万18岁以下的儿童被确诊为哮喘。10个学龄儿童里面就有1个，哮喘已成为第三大导致儿童住院的病因。
据Web MD报道，AJRCCM在2007年进行了一项长期的儿童呼吸道研究。在这项研究中，孩子们从出生到16岁都会定期接受肺功能测试。研究人员发现，那些妈妈不患哮喘且接受母乳喂养超过4个月的孩子肺功能较强。而那些妈妈患哮喘且接受母乳喂养超过4个月的孩子的肺功能则减弱了6%。
当时医生说，虽然这代表了肺功能的显著下降，但它还不足以成为让妈妈们将母乳喂养限制在4个月内以减小风险的警告。
2011年，Science Daily报道了一篇发表在European Respiratory Journal期刊上的研究，该项研究显示奶粉喂养的宝宝喘息发作的概率要比母乳喂养6个月的宝宝高50%，而母乳喂养辅以补充食物的宝宝喘息发作的概率也比纯母乳喂养的高20%。
ARJCCM的研究分别在2007年和2011年回访了这些孩子以期探寻出母乳喂养与哮喘之间更深一层的联系，尤其是对那些妈妈患病又是母乳喂养的孩子。据路透社报道，共有1, 500个儿童在他们16岁前会定期接受检测。与此同时，他们的父母也会接受母乳喂养习惯、孩子暴露在二手烟下的程度及其他环境风险因子的调查。
这项研究发现，母乳喂养的孩子表现出更强的肺容量且不易缺氧，调节呼吸能力较强。而妈妈有哮喘的孩子如果接受母乳喂养超过4个月，他们调节呼吸的能力也会有所增强。研究作者说，这项研究与减少呼吸道感染无关，但是更强的肺功能意味着将来患哮喘的风险会比较小。
Effect of breastfeeding on lung function in childhood and modulation by maternal asthma and atopy.
Cristian M Dogaru, Marie-Pierre F Strippoli, Ben D Spycher, Urs Frey, Caroline S Beardsmore, Michael Silverman and Claudia E Kuehni
Rationale: The evidence for an effect of breastfeeding on lung function is conflicting, in particular whether the effect is modified by maternal asthma.
Objectives: To explore the association between breastfeeding and school-age lung function.
Methods: In the Leicestershire Cohort Studies we assessed duration of breastfeeding (not breastfed, ≤ 3 months, 4-6 months, and > 6 months), other exposures and respiratory symptoms by repeated questionnaires. Post-bronchodilator FVC, FEV1, PEF, FEF50 and skin prick tests were measured at age 12 years. We performed multivariable linear regression and tested potential causal pathways (N=1458).
Measurements and Main Results: In the entire sample, FEF50 was higher by 130 and 164 ml in children breastfed for 4-6 and >6 months respectively, compared to those not breastfed (p=0.048 and 0.041), with larger effects if the mother had asthma. FVC and FEV1 were associated with breastfeeding only in children of asthmatic mothers (p for interaction 0.018 and 0.008): FVC was increased by 123 and 164 ml for those breastfed 4-6 or >6 months respectively (p=0.177 and 0.040) and FEV1 was increased by 148 and 167 ml respectively (p=0.050 and 0.016). Results were unchanged after adjustment for respiratory infections in infancy and asthma and atopy in the child.
Conclusions: In this cohort, breastfeeding for over 4 months was associated with increased FEF50 and, in children of asthmatic mothers, with increased FEV1 and FVC. It seems that the effect is not mediated via avoidance of early infections or atopy, but rather through a direct effect on lung growth.
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