Although the authors could not draw firm conclusions due to the heterogeneity of the studies and their results, they concluded that the overall findings were «suggestive» of a protective association between higher maternal intakes of LC omega - 3s or fish and
incidence of allergic disease symptoms in the offspring.
Globally, over 220 million people suffer from food allergies and most countries report an increase in
incidence.26 It is predicted that by 2050 the number
of patients affected by
allergic diseases in Australia will increase by 70 % to 7.7 million.27 By 2021, the markets for naturally healthy (US$ 291 billion), food intolerance (US$ 42 billion) and organic products (US$ 45 billion) are expected to have grown at up to 4.5 % compound annual growth rate (CAGR).28
Research in the United States, Canada, Europe, and other developed countries, among predominantly middle - class populations, provides strong evidence that human milk feeding decreases the
incidence and / or severity
of diarrhea,1 - 5 lower respiratory infection,6 - 9 otitis media,3,10 - 14bacteremia, 15,16 bacterial meningitis, 15,17 botulism, 18 urinary tract infection, 19 and necrotizing enterocolitis.20, 21 There are a number
of studies that show a possible protective effect
of human milk feeding against sudden infant death syndrome,22 - 24insulin - dependent diabetes mellitus,25 - 27 Crohn's
disease, 28,29 ulcerative colitis, 29 lymphoma, 30,31
allergic diseases,32 - 34 and other chronic digestive diseases.35 - 37 Breastfeeding has also been related to possible enhancement
of cognitive development.38, 39