#3-31E. The Long-Term Shield: Breastfeeding and Asthma Risks in Young Adulthood (J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2026)

Does the protective effect of early-life nutrition against asthma extend into adulthood, or does it fade after childhood? A new study from the Swedish BAMSE birth cohort addresses this enduring question by following over 3,900 participants from birth to age 24. The researchers investigated the association between exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months and the long-term prevalence of asthma and IgE sensitization. The study reveals that while the protective effect against general asthma prevalence was statistically significant only up to age 12, exclusive breastfeeding remained inversely associated with persistent asthma and IgE sensitization up to young adulthood. This suggests a specific benefit in reducing chronic disease phenotypes rather than late-onset asthma. However, critical appraisal requires noting that the definition of asthma relied largely on self-reported questionnaire data, which may introduce classification bias compared to clinical diagnosis. For clinicians, these findings reinforce the value of promoting exclusive breastfeeding during perinatal counseling, as it appears to offer tangible, long-term benefits in mitigating specific asthma trajectories and allergic sensitization well into adult life.

Citation: Kull I, Ödling M, Andersson N, et al. Breastfeeding is inversely associated with asthma and IgE sensitisation up to young adulthood. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2025.12.1011

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