Breastfeeding may have a limited protective effect on some mental health disorders in children later in life

1. This systematic review and meta-analysis found that there was no significant association between breastfeeding and the occurrence of schizophrenia in children later in life.

2. However, the findings on depression and anxiety disorders were mixed. Some studies found a small protective effect of breastfeeding, while others observed no effect.

Evidence Rating Level: 1 (Excellent)

Breastfeeding contributes several health benefits to both the mother and the child. Although breastfeeding contributes to neurocognitive and socio-emotional development, there is still a lack of evidence on the role breastfeeding may play in the development of mental health disorders in the mother or child later in life. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the current evidence on the links between breastfeeding and the development of mental health disorders in both the mother and child.

Of 17,887 identified records, 21 studies were included from database inception to June 2, 2023. Studies were included if they investigated the link between breastfeeding and mental health disorder development in children and mothers. There were no restrictions on specific populations, such as high-risk groups, or the type or duration of breastfeeding. Studies were excluded if follow-up was less than 12 months since birth, they investigated associations between breastfeeding and autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or if the study population consisted of premature infants. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and the GRADE approach was used to evaluate the certainty of evidence. The review was carried out according to PRISMA guidelines. The primary outcome was the association between breastfeeding and the development of mental health disorders in children and mothers.

The results demonstrated that there was no association between breastfeeding and the development of schizophrenia in children later in life. As for depression and anxiety, the role of breastfeeding was mixed. Some studies found a small protective effect of breastfeeding on the development of depression and anxiety in children, while others observed no effect. Only three studies looked at the impact of breastfeeding on maternal health, so no conclusions could be drawn from this population. However, the study was limited by the lack of evidence regarding other mental health disorders, such as eating disorders. Nonetheless, the present study found limited evidence to suggest that breastfeeding may have a protective effect on some mental health disorders in children later in life, but further research is necessary to explore this link.

Click to read the study in BMC Medicine

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