GASTROENTERITIS, DIARRHEA AND BREAST-FEEDING

In this paper we review the literature in regard to possible relations hips between breast feeding and diarrhoea or gastroenteritis. We show that in the developed as well as the developing world, there is consis tent evidence of a protective effect of exclusive breast feeding in th e first 4-6 months of life. The odds ratios were generally in excess o f 3.0 for non-breast milk feeds. The relationship was not consistent f or rotavirus infections but was consistently strong for non-viral path ogens. There are a number of indicators that suggest biological plausi bility, in both the developing and developed world. The triple indicat ors of consistency and strength of the epidemiological associations, t ogether with biological plausibility are major arguments for believing that there is a causal sequence involved. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science I reland Ltd.