Wed, Jul 6, 2011 (HealthDay News) -- Hopes that breastfeeding can reduce flare-ups of multiple sclerosis have been dimmed by recent research in Italy.
Researchers at the University of Florence found no support for prior studies connecting breastfeeding with lower disease activity for women with the degenerative nerve disorder commonly known as MS.
Instead, they determined that women who were sicker tended not to breastfeed, leading to the conclusion that some breastfeeding mothers had fewer relapses simply because they were healthier.
"Breastfeeding should not be encouraged as a protective factor without an accurate evaluation of the specific patient characteristics," said Dr. Emilio Portaccio, lead author and neurologist in the university's department of neurology. "Our study is important due to a lack of a consensus on whether breastfeeding should be advised against in order to resume therapy soon after delivery."
Women with MS are cautioned not to take medications while breastfeeding. The findings suggest that nursing may not be possible for women "with high disease activity," said Portaccio. Those women should be counseled that MS drug treatment soon after delivery should be an option, the authors said.
Multiple sclerosis, a progressive autoimmune disorder characterized by deterioration in physical coordination, affects about 400,000 people in the United States. It strikes women twice as often as men, with symptoms varying greatly from one person to another, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Typically, the disease goes into remission, sometimes for long periods of time, and flare-ups during pregnancy are rare, according to the society.
"The reason is not yet fully understood," said Portaccio.
But the effect of pregnancy on the course of the disease is "at best neutral," Portaccio said, noting that other autoimmune disease activity also declines while women are carrying children. During that time, an immune system "switch" changes from a "pro-inflammatory status to an anti-inflammatory status that promptly reverts after delivery." Symptoms then increase to an "even higher" level for a few months. Pregnancy is not believed to cause any long-term worsening of the disorder, however.
Several drugs are used to fight MS, which attacks myelin, the protective covering of nerve cells, causing inflammation. They are not considered safe for use during pregnancy, however.
For their study, the researchers looked at 298 women with full-term pregnancies from 2002 to 2008 at 21 MS treatment centers throughout Italy. Of those, about 34 percent breastfed their babies for at least two months. The remaining mothers, who breastfed for zero to two months, were labeled the non-breastfeeding group.
Follow-up lasted for a year. After adjusting for factors such as age and level of disability, the researchers found no significant difference in relapse rates between the breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding groups.
The only predictor of postpartum disease activity was the number of relapses before and during pregnancy, the researchers found.
The study, published online July 6 in Neurology, was conducted on behalf of the MS Study Group of the Italian Neurological Society.
The findings are "in line with what one might expect," said Dr. Fred Lublin, a neurologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. "Healthier women tended to breastfeed."
The study "did not resolve the issue of breastfeeding," added Lublin, who is also director of the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis at Mount Sinai. "These studies are all observational and it's hard to draw a conclusion of cause and effect from an observational study." A controlled study is needed, he said.
One expert expressed concern about the study's methodology. Dr. Emmanuelle Waubant, a neurologist at the University of California San Francisco Multiple Sclerosis Center, said that grouping women who had breastfed for less than two months with those who did not breastfeed at all could have affected the findings.
"Breastfeeding affects hormone production," which could affect disease activity, said Waubant, who is also an associate professor of neurology at the university.
But Lublin, who did not share that concern, said the researchers had used established criteria for group selection set by the World Health Organization.
-- Ellin Holohan
Copyright © 2011 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Showing posts with label research. Show all posts
Showing posts with label research. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Breastfeeding may not protect moms against MS relapse
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Amazing Liquid Gold!
I get daily emails from whattoexpect.com and this was today's informative article. It was written a couple of years ago, but it's definetly worth a second posting!
whattoexpect.com
12/16/2008 11:30:00 AM
Breast Milk: It's Some Pretty Amazing Stuff!
We've all heard that breast is best. While I believe that formula fed babies thrive and do just fine, I still do my best to give my kids breast milk as long as I can. Zander was the only one of my children that I nursed passed the one year mark. He has never had an ear infection, and to this day he rarely gets sick. I have no idea if it was the breast milk or if he's just very, very lucky.
Breast milk isn't just for feeding babies. Did you know that you can actually use breast milk as a homeopathic remedy for certain things?
Breast milk is an excellent healing agent for sore, cracked nipples. Simply express some milk, rub it on your nipples, and allow it to air dry. Do this often - especially after each feeding.
Breast milk is also known to cure pink eye! Express it into the affected eye. If baby or child won't let you do it while they're awake, do it while they're sleeping. Drip breast milk onto the creases of a closed eye, then open the eye slightly to allow milk to seep into the eye.
Breast milk is also great on cuts and scrapes. Apply to the wound, and allow to air dry. Do this often to prevent germs from growing.
Those are all the things that I have personally used breast milk to treat. However, I have also heard that it can be used to treat stuffy noses, sore throats, ear infections, mosquito bites, diaper rash, eczema, and can even be used as a facial cleaner and is great for removing make up!
I also have a friend who cooks with breast milk instead of cow's milk. Now, I have not been brave enough to try this. I think my husband would freak out if I told him his mashed potatoes were made with breast milk. Of course, the look on his face might be worth it! My friend swears by cooking with breast milk, though, and her family doesn't mind at all!
Who knew that there was so much you could do with breast milk? I find it simply amazing.
These are some of the comments that followed:
astrotq said on 7/25/2009 11:22:00 AM:
haha! yeah i think my husband would flip if i ever slipped breastmilk into his food! he is one of those men that is more horrified than fascinated by my boobs and milk coming out of them, (though he is totally supportive of breastfeeding our baby.) however, he shall have to suffer with his scrapes and mosquito bites, while my daughter and i will be cured, lol!
julesddd said on 8/1/2009 1:20:00 PM:
I donate to a milk bank that uses the milk to treat burn victims. So when I got a sunburn last week, I got the bright idea to use a little of my own milk in addition to the aloe lotion. My burn went away in record time! Add burn treatment to the remedy list.
Kati8009 said on 8/2/2009 12:20:00 PM:
Do you think it would work on poison ivy? I don't know anyone who has it right now but my husband has gotten it pretty bad in the past, might have to see if that works
kelsters99 said on 9/5/2009 12:30:00 PM:
My little boy suffers from a stuffy nose all the time almost since the day he was born (5 months old). How would you use breast milk for that? I have used it for all kinds of things like baby eczema, cuts and scrapes, and sore nipples. Would love to help him with his stuffy nose besides having to suck at what little snot I get when I use the aspirator.
harmsgerm said on 9/8/2009 10:32:00 AM:
There has been some research done linking breastmilk to killing cancer cells. I think the research is fairly new, but if its accurate, I'd add a couple more exclamation points after amazing. :)
ladygarnetoak said on 9/22/2009 1:15:00 PM:
yes it does work on diaper rashes (except for ones caused by yeast), works wonders on teen acne ( i have a 13 yo also) and i used it on my face just to see what it would do and my skin became softer. oh yes the stuff is liquid gold!!!!
missmargarita said on 10/28/2009 9:23:00 PM:
I think breast milk was being used as a cancer treatment in the 80s, but didn't know it was still being used.
I did try putting breast milk in my coffee, but found it pretty yucky (I think the smell was the main cause. It reminded me too much of the smell of her spit).
A few days ago I was clipping my dd's nails while she was awake (silly wabbit) and accidentally knicked a cuticle that seemed like it wouldn't stop bleeding (it eventually did). I remember thinking that if it looked like it might get infected, I'd put some breast milk on it. Thankfully it healed before I got to test my theory. Had it been me who got cut (and I certainly have on more than one occasion, usually when chopping veggies), I wouldn't have paid much attention to it, but she's my baby and I just felt awful to have hurt her, even if it was minor and an accident.
Jules, I think it's wonderful that you donate your milk to help burn victims.
avonfeldt0107 said on 11/2/2009 11:27:00 AM:
how did you get intouch with a breast milk bank? I have it stockpiled. My plan is to keep my son on breastmilk until he is 1, but at the rate we are going, I will have plenty more after that.
kstuhld said on 11/9/2009 12:42:00 PM:
So I went on a date with the hubby and had a couple glasses of wine. I pumped and dumped. If we ever get the opportunity to go out again, do you think I could save the milk for these other purposes or will the alcohol render it useless? Also, how in the world are you ladies getting enough milk to store and donate? I am barely making enough for my little guy to eat. I pump every morning and get maybe and additional ounce or two. Thanks for any feedback.
jkweldon78 said on 11/28/2009 9:33:00 AM:
I agree with everyone that breastmilk is awesome! I have used it in my baby's eye if it gets a little red or weepy and it takes care of it right away. It also definitely works on stuffy noses if you use a dropper to put a few drops in each nostril. Then the aspirator will be more effective. I had never thought to try it on burns or sunburn but I will now! To the person who asked about how to get connected with a milk bank, go to www.breastmilkproject.org and you can find a milk bank in your area. I too have tons of breastmilk stockpiled in my freezer because I always pump before I go to bed at night (my daughter sleeps for 10 to 12 hours overnight and pumping helps me keep from getting engorged). I will be donating it all as soon as I finish the screening process!
Ann2100 said on 11/30/2009 10:08:00 AM:
Wow breast milk is really great. i must try it for those uses
practiceactress said on 12/5/2009 2:50:00 PM:
A good alternative to a milk bank if anyone is interested, is a site called Milkshare.com. It links you to a yahoo group of women who need/want breastmilk for their babies and have either adopted, had surgery, or has a low/no milk supply for some other reason. I had a breast reduction surgery back in 1999 and only make about %50 of my daughter's needs. With the help of Milkshare, I have been able to keep my daughter completely on breastmilk, and I supplement her at the breast with a device from Medela called and SNS (Supplemental Nursing System). We have even been able to get milk in other states while traveling, thanks to this group. So, if you are interested in a more "personal" way of donating, and a less vigorous screening process than a milk bank, definitely check it out. Not enough people know about Milkshare, and it is such an amazing resource. We have a very special relationship with our milk donors... and I think it is nice for them to watch the baby that they are helping to grow get bigger every month. Just thought I would share! :)
whattoexpect.com
12/16/2008 11:30:00 AM
Breast Milk: It's Some Pretty Amazing Stuff!
We've all heard that breast is best. While I believe that formula fed babies thrive and do just fine, I still do my best to give my kids breast milk as long as I can. Zander was the only one of my children that I nursed passed the one year mark. He has never had an ear infection, and to this day he rarely gets sick. I have no idea if it was the breast milk or if he's just very, very lucky.
Breast milk isn't just for feeding babies. Did you know that you can actually use breast milk as a homeopathic remedy for certain things?
Breast milk is an excellent healing agent for sore, cracked nipples. Simply express some milk, rub it on your nipples, and allow it to air dry. Do this often - especially after each feeding.
Breast milk is also known to cure pink eye! Express it into the affected eye. If baby or child won't let you do it while they're awake, do it while they're sleeping. Drip breast milk onto the creases of a closed eye, then open the eye slightly to allow milk to seep into the eye.
Breast milk is also great on cuts and scrapes. Apply to the wound, and allow to air dry. Do this often to prevent germs from growing.
Those are all the things that I have personally used breast milk to treat. However, I have also heard that it can be used to treat stuffy noses, sore throats, ear infections, mosquito bites, diaper rash, eczema, and can even be used as a facial cleaner and is great for removing make up!
I also have a friend who cooks with breast milk instead of cow's milk. Now, I have not been brave enough to try this. I think my husband would freak out if I told him his mashed potatoes were made with breast milk. Of course, the look on his face might be worth it! My friend swears by cooking with breast milk, though, and her family doesn't mind at all!
Who knew that there was so much you could do with breast milk? I find it simply amazing.
These are some of the comments that followed:
astrotq said on 7/25/2009 11:22:00 AM:
haha! yeah i think my husband would flip if i ever slipped breastmilk into his food! he is one of those men that is more horrified than fascinated by my boobs and milk coming out of them, (though he is totally supportive of breastfeeding our baby.) however, he shall have to suffer with his scrapes and mosquito bites, while my daughter and i will be cured, lol!
julesddd said on 8/1/2009 1:20:00 PM:
I donate to a milk bank that uses the milk to treat burn victims. So when I got a sunburn last week, I got the bright idea to use a little of my own milk in addition to the aloe lotion. My burn went away in record time! Add burn treatment to the remedy list.
Kati8009 said on 8/2/2009 12:20:00 PM:
Do you think it would work on poison ivy? I don't know anyone who has it right now but my husband has gotten it pretty bad in the past, might have to see if that works
kelsters99 said on 9/5/2009 12:30:00 PM:
My little boy suffers from a stuffy nose all the time almost since the day he was born (5 months old). How would you use breast milk for that? I have used it for all kinds of things like baby eczema, cuts and scrapes, and sore nipples. Would love to help him with his stuffy nose besides having to suck at what little snot I get when I use the aspirator.
harmsgerm said on 9/8/2009 10:32:00 AM:
There has been some research done linking breastmilk to killing cancer cells. I think the research is fairly new, but if its accurate, I'd add a couple more exclamation points after amazing. :)
ladygarnetoak said on 9/22/2009 1:15:00 PM:
yes it does work on diaper rashes (except for ones caused by yeast), works wonders on teen acne ( i have a 13 yo also) and i used it on my face just to see what it would do and my skin became softer. oh yes the stuff is liquid gold!!!!
missmargarita said on 10/28/2009 9:23:00 PM:
I think breast milk was being used as a cancer treatment in the 80s, but didn't know it was still being used.
I did try putting breast milk in my coffee, but found it pretty yucky (I think the smell was the main cause. It reminded me too much of the smell of her spit).
A few days ago I was clipping my dd's nails while she was awake (silly wabbit) and accidentally knicked a cuticle that seemed like it wouldn't stop bleeding (it eventually did). I remember thinking that if it looked like it might get infected, I'd put some breast milk on it. Thankfully it healed before I got to test my theory. Had it been me who got cut (and I certainly have on more than one occasion, usually when chopping veggies), I wouldn't have paid much attention to it, but she's my baby and I just felt awful to have hurt her, even if it was minor and an accident.
Jules, I think it's wonderful that you donate your milk to help burn victims.
avonfeldt0107 said on 11/2/2009 11:27:00 AM:
how did you get intouch with a breast milk bank? I have it stockpiled. My plan is to keep my son on breastmilk until he is 1, but at the rate we are going, I will have plenty more after that.
kstuhld said on 11/9/2009 12:42:00 PM:
So I went on a date with the hubby and had a couple glasses of wine. I pumped and dumped. If we ever get the opportunity to go out again, do you think I could save the milk for these other purposes or will the alcohol render it useless? Also, how in the world are you ladies getting enough milk to store and donate? I am barely making enough for my little guy to eat. I pump every morning and get maybe and additional ounce or two. Thanks for any feedback.
jkweldon78 said on 11/28/2009 9:33:00 AM:
I agree with everyone that breastmilk is awesome! I have used it in my baby's eye if it gets a little red or weepy and it takes care of it right away. It also definitely works on stuffy noses if you use a dropper to put a few drops in each nostril. Then the aspirator will be more effective. I had never thought to try it on burns or sunburn but I will now! To the person who asked about how to get connected with a milk bank, go to www.breastmilkproject.org and you can find a milk bank in your area. I too have tons of breastmilk stockpiled in my freezer because I always pump before I go to bed at night (my daughter sleeps for 10 to 12 hours overnight and pumping helps me keep from getting engorged). I will be donating it all as soon as I finish the screening process!
Ann2100 said on 11/30/2009 10:08:00 AM:
Wow breast milk is really great. i must try it for those uses
practiceactress said on 12/5/2009 2:50:00 PM:
A good alternative to a milk bank if anyone is interested, is a site called Milkshare.com. It links you to a yahoo group of women who need/want breastmilk for their babies and have either adopted, had surgery, or has a low/no milk supply for some other reason. I had a breast reduction surgery back in 1999 and only make about %50 of my daughter's needs. With the help of Milkshare, I have been able to keep my daughter completely on breastmilk, and I supplement her at the breast with a device from Medela called and SNS (Supplemental Nursing System). We have even been able to get milk in other states while traveling, thanks to this group. So, if you are interested in a more "personal" way of donating, and a less vigorous screening process than a milk bank, definitely check it out. Not enough people know about Milkshare, and it is such an amazing resource. We have a very special relationship with our milk donors... and I think it is nice for them to watch the baby that they are helping to grow get bigger every month. Just thought I would share! :)
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