[Relationship between breast-feeding duration and childhood acute leukemia]

ABSTRACT

The role of breast-feeding in protection against childhood acute leukemia is uncertain. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that breast-feeding decreases the risk of 300 patients we investigated childhood acute leukemia. In a case control study, we inrestigated 300 patients, aged 2 +/- 13 years, with acute leukemia, as well as 300 controls, individually matched for age and sex. Information regarding breast-feeding was obtained through face to face interviews with mothers. Findings showed that there was a significant relationship between duration of breast-feeding and childhood acute leukemia [P<0. 001]. Breastfeeding of less than 1-months durations, when compared with feeding of longer durations 19-24 months was associated with increased risk of childhood acute leukemia [OR=3. 54]. In this study, breast-feeding was associated with a reduced risk of childhood acute leukemia. Our findings suggest that future epidemiologic and experimental efforts should be directed at investigating the relationship between breast-feeding duration and all malignancies among children