While longer breast-feeding favorably affects the child's lung growth, a new study suggests adverse results in asthmatic mothers.

According to the results published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, in the presence of maternal asthma, longer breastfeeding is associated with decreased airflows and lung function.

The study investigators hypothesized that breast-feeding could have different effects on lung and airway growth, depending on the mother's asthma status, and that these effects could persist until the child's school years.

Previous studies had shown some of the many benefits of breast-feeding including the decreased incidence and severity of lower respiratory tract illness and enhanced maturation of antimicrobial and immune responses.

Earlier studies had also suggested that children with atopy whose mothers have asthma are more likely to develop the disease when they are breast-fed.

PKH/HGH