Breastfeeding decreases risk of developing psoriasis

[Fred]

This study explored the role of early nutrition as a risk factor for the development of psoriasis.

Quote:

---

Background:
Psoriasis is a genetically determined systemic skin disease, although environmental trigger factors are required for disease manifestation. Some of these triggers, such as stress, infections and drug exposure, have been identified.

Objectives:
To explore the role of early nutrition as a risk factor for the development of psoriasis.

Methods:
Parents in the All Babies in Southeast Sweden (ABIS) prospective birth cohort (n = 16 415) answered questionnaires at birth and when their children were aged 1 and 3 years. A diagnosis of psoriasis was determined from the Swedish National Patient Register and National Drug Prescription Register. Statistical analyses were conducted using custom-written R scripts.

Results:
Individuals breastfed for < 4 months and who received infant formula before 4 months of age had a higher risk of psoriasis [odds ratio (OR) 1.84 (P = 0.02) and OR 1.88 (P = 0.02), respectively]. At the 3-year follow-up, the increased consumption of fish, especially from the Baltic Sea, increased the risk of psoriasis (OR 9.61; P = 0.003). In addition, the risk of psoriasis increased following the consumption of a large volume of milk (OR 2.53; P = 0.04).

Conclusions:
Our study underscores, for the first time, the impact of very early nutrition on the manifestation of psoriasis through early adulthood. Exclusive breastfeeding for 4 months appears to be protective.

Source: oup.cp,

*Funding: Swedish Child Diabetes Foundation; Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research; Swedish Research Council; Medical Research; DRF Wallenberg Foundation; Östergötland and Linköping University, Sweden and the Joanna Cocozza Foundation.

[Kat]

Hmm, interesting.  I don't think I was a breastfed baby but don't really know as Mom didn't talk about it.  I'm quite a bit younger than my siblings however so it would be interesting to know if they were breastfed and I was not as I'm the only one with psoriasis.  Not sure about the hereditary thing though.

Well, I wonder though if you have psoriasis and breastfeed if that changes things? It doesn't mention whether the Mom does or doesn't have psoriasis and if that changes the stats any.  But, these things are mostly over my head. 

[Fred]

I was breastfed, I remember my Mum telling me when I was young. But I'm the only one with psoriasis in my family, I have two brothers.

[Kat]

I was breastfed, I remember my Mum telling me when I was young. But I'm the only one with psoriasis in my family, I have two brothers.

Well you're debunking their study

[mataribot]

I was breastfed, I remember my Mum telling me when I was young. But I'm the only one with psoriasis in my family, I have two brothers.

[Caroline]

I was breastfed, I remember my Mum telling me when I was young. But I'm the only one with psoriasis in my family, I have two brothers.

Well you're debunking their study 

Well… reading the study you see only half of it. If I read right.

Breastfeeding less than 4 months and changing to cow milk shows more instances of psoriasis.
But… in the following 3 years, the consumption of fish and lots of milk ALSO increases Psoriasis severely, apparantly higher than the no-breastfeeding group…

What we don’t really see, but that may be in the research, is how the people did who were breastfed for more than 4 months, and for how many months.
And who at the same time also ate much fish and drank much milk, equal to the other group. Only then you can compare.
That is not clear in the abstract.

And how it is compared to a group who had breastfeeding and at the same time did eat meat and drink beer (or anything other than milk).

I think this is very delicate research… though I think that breastfeeding is always better than artificial milk, I am not sure as a lot of sensitivity for psoriasis is in the genes and that is not changed by breastfeeding.

[Turnedlight]

In the uk right now many babies are breastfed but when I was born it was much less usual, it was seen as normal to go straight to formula.
Apparently only about 25% of us were breastfed back then so wouldn’t this suggest the incidence of psoriasis would be much higher in older age groups than in babies born more recently?

[Caroline]

In the uk right now many babies are breastfed but when I was born it was much less usual, it was seen as normal to go straight to formula.
Apparently only about 25% of us were breastfed back then so wouldn’t this suggest the incidence of psoriasis would be much higher in older age groups than in babies born more recently?

Yes.. I agree that would be more logical then. It should be possible to see that in the generations. I am from a generation that was breastfed for a long time,

[Fred]

In the uk right now many babies are breastfed but when I was born it was much less usual, it was seen as normal to go straight to formula.
Apparently only about 25% of us were breastfed back then so wouldn’t this suggest the incidence of psoriasis would be much higher in older age groups than in babies born more recently?

Yes.. I agree that would be more logical then. It should be possible to see that in the generations.  I am from a generation that was breastfed for a long time,

Money would have played a part in my time, breast milk was free I don't even know if there was formula's when I was born but my family wouldn't have been able to afford them if they were.

[Kat]

In the uk right now many babies are breastfed but when I was born it was much less usual, it was seen as normal to go straight to formula.
Apparently only about 25% of us were breastfed back then so wouldn’t this suggest the incidence of psoriasis would be much higher in older age groups than in babies born more recently?

That makes sense to me in regards to the study. You'd think it would be somewhat generational if breastfeeding played a huge part.

Lots of things contribute to our health, I'm sure breastfeeding vs bottlefeeding is one that does to a small extent for some (larger extent for others as we are all different) but sometimes I think these studies are...... not very helpful.