Feeding solid foods to infants before 6 months of age can increase the risk of allergies, while exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months may prevent the onset of allergic symptoms later in life, according to a paper published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
The paper is the first consensus document published in a peer-reviewed journal to recommend allergy-avoiding strategies for introducing solid foods to the infant diet.
"This report reinforces the consensus of organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization, which recommend exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months as optimal for infant and maternal health," said lead author Alessandro Fiocchi, M.D., University of Milan Medical School, Milan, Italy. Dr. Fiocchi is chair of the Adverse Reactions to Foods Committee of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), which prepared the consensus document.
Specific recommendations of the committee include: