- 38+ VitaminDWiki pages with BREASTFED etc in the title
- 10+ VitaminDWiki pages have LACTATION in the title
- Bone Mineral Density decreases during breastfeeding, recovers 6 months later – Aug 2023
- Factoid: Colostrom (first 5 days) has 3X more vitamin D than breast milk
- Mothers need to take 4,000 to 6,400 IU Vitamin D daily (or 150,000 monthly) to provide adequate vitamin D during breastfeeding
- The Hidden Secrets of Natural Milk - MidWestern Doctor - May 2025
- Why Is What We Feed Infants So Unhealthy? - MidWestern Doctor - March 2025
- Decreased breastfeeding increases childhood diseases - May 2025
- Breastfeeding Protection Against Infectious Diseases
- Respiratory Infections
- Gastrointestinal Infections 2.8X
- Otitis Media (Ear Infections) 1.5X
- Overall Hospital Admissions 1.3 X to 1.5 X
- Impact on Non-Infectious Health Outcomes
- Obesity and Metabolic Health 1.2 X
- Diabetes Risk 1.6 X
- Allergies and Asthma 1.4 X to 1.7 X
- Cancer Risk 1.2 X to 1.3 X
- SIDS Risk 1.6X to 2.1 X
- Mechanisms Behind Increased Disease Risk
- The Timing of Transition Matters
- Conclusion
- VitaminDWiki - Pregnancy category contains
38+ VitaminDWiki pages with BREASTFED etc in the title
This list is automatically updated
10+ VitaminDWiki pages have LACTATION in the title
This list is automatically updated
Bone Mineral Density decreases during breastfeeding, recovers 6 months later – Aug 2023
Bone Mineral Density During and After Lactation: A Comparison of African American and Caucasian Women
Calcif Tissue Int. 2023 Aug 28. doi: 10.1007/s00223-023-01125-9
Marilyn Augustine 1, Robert Boudreau 2, Jane A Cauley 2, Deborah Majchel 3, Nayana Nagaraj 4, Lauren S Roe 2, Poonam Sood 5, Andrew F Stewart 6, Mara J Horwitz 7
During lactation, changes in maternal calcium metabolism are necessary to provide adequate calcium for newborn skeletal development. The calcium in milk is derived from the maternal skeleton through a process thought to be mediated by the actions of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) in combination with decreased circulating estrogen concentrations. After weaning, bone lost during lactation is rapidly regained. Most studies of bone metabolism in lactating women have been performed in Caucasian subjects.
There are well-documented differences between African American (AA) and Caucasian (C) bone metabolism, including higher bone mineral density (BMD), lower risk of fracture, lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D), and higher PTH in AA compared to C. In this prospective paired cohort study, BMD and markers of bone turnover were compared in self-identified AA and C mothers during lactation and after weaning. BMD decreased in both AA and C women during lactation, with similar decreases at the lumbar spine (LS) and greater bone loss in the C group at the femoral neck (FN) and total hip (TH), demonstrating that AA are not resistant to PTHrP during lactation. BMD recovery compared to the 2 week postpartum baseline was observed 6 months after weaning, though the C group did not have complete recovery at the FN. Increases in markers of bone formation and resorption during lactation were similar in AA and C. C-terminal telopeptide (CTX) decreased to 30% below post-pregnancy baseline in both groups 6 months after weaning, while procollagen type 1 N-terminal (P1NP) returned to baseline in the AA group and fell to below baseline in the C group. Further investigation is required to determine impacts on long term bone health for women who do not fully recover BMD before a subsequent pregnancy.
 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki
Factoid: Colostrom (first 5 days) has 3X more vitamin D than breast milk
Starts at 1.2 IU/g in colostrum, decreases to 0.36 IU/g during the first 5 days post-partum Reference
Mothers need to take 4,000 to 6,400 IU Vitamin D daily (or 150,000 monthly) to provide adequate vitamin D during breastfeeding
Can maternal vitamin D supplementation significantly increase the vitamin D content in colostrum? - asked Perplexity AI Dec 2024
Yes, maternal vitamin D supplementation can significantly increase vitamin D content in breast milk, including colostrum.
Here's what the research shows:
Supplementation Effects
High-dose maternal vitamin D supplementation effectively increases breast milk vitamin D content through two main approaches:
Dose-Response Relationship
When mothers receive a single large dose (150,000 IU):
- Breast milk vitamin D peaks at 40 ng/mL on day 1
- Levels decline rapidly afterward 1
With daily supplementation (5000 IU):
- Breast milk vitamin D reaches steady levels of 8 ng/mL by day 3
- These levels maintain through day 28 1
Clinical Outcomes
Higher maternal supplementation leads to better infant outcomes:
- Over 90% of infants whose mothers took vitamin D supplements while breastfeeding achieved adequate serum vitamin D levels 8
- The final mean serum vitamin D in supplemented mothers' infants was 66.7 nmol/L,
compared to 33.5 nmol/L in unsupplemented mothers' infants 8
Current Recommendations
Standard maternal supplementation of 400-600 IU per day is insufficient to meaningfully increase milk vitamin D content 2
. Higher doses of 4000-6400 IU daily are needed to achieve adequate vitamin D transfer through breast milk 3
The Hidden Secrets of Natural Milk - MidWestern Doctor - May 2025
Why Is What We Feed Infants So Unhealthy? - MidWestern Doctor - March 2025
- The infant formula industry has almost 100 billion dollars in annual sales.
- Infant formula is full of corn syrup and seed oils, which cause metabolic dysfunction and excessive weight gain.- due to an error in 1963 study
- Before the introduction of infant formula, mothers would often supplement their children’s diets with animal milks. If raw, these milks can yield significant benefits to children, while in contrast, when pasteurized, they have many issues (e.g., they frequently create allergies).
Decreased breastfeeding increases childhood diseases - May 2025
The Impact of Switching from Breastfeeding to Infant Formula on Childhood Disease Risk
Perplexity AI Deep Research May 2025
Research consistently demonstrates that the transition from breastfeeding to infant formula is associated with increased risk of various childhood diseases and health conditions. This comprehensive report examines the evidence surrounding this relationship and explores the mechanisms that may explain these increased health risks.
Breastfeeding Protection Against Infectious Diseases
Breastfeeding provides significant protection against infectious diseases during infancy and early childhood. When this protection is interrupted by switching to formula feeding, children become more vulnerable to various infections.
Respiratory Infections
Studies show that infants who are not breastfed face substantially higher risks of respiratory infections. According to research, infants who were not being breastfed were 17 times more likely than those being exclusively breastfed to be admitted to hospital for pneumonia 11. This relative risk was even more dramatic for children under 3 months old, where it increased to 61 times higher risk 11.
When examining partial breastfeeding (mixed with formula), infants receiving both breast milk and formula at ages 1-2.9 months were still 2.9 times more likely to be admitted for pneumonia than exclusively breastfed babies 11. This indicates that while some breastfeeding is better than none, the introduction of formula significantly increases infection risk.
Gastrointestinal Infections 2.8X
Gastrointestinal infections show similar patterns of increased risk with formula introduction. A meta-analysis found that infants who were formula-fed or received a mixture of formula and human milk were 2.8 times more likely to develop gastrointestinal infections than exclusively breastfed infants 13. In the first year of life, the incidence of diarrheal illness among formula-fed infants was twice that of breastfed infants 4.
A study in Zambia found that early weaning (transitioning from breast milk to other foods) substantially increased diarrhea morbidity and mortality among children 7. The protection offered by breast milk against these infections appears to be dose-dependent, with continued breastfeeding associated with reduced risk of diarrhea-related health problems 7.
Otitis Media (Ear Infections) 1.5X
Ear infections are significantly more common among formula-fed infants. Research indicates that infants who are formula fed have a 50% higher risk of developing otitis media compared to exclusively breastfed babies 19. One study found that the percentage of children with any otitis media was 19% lower in breastfed compared with formula-fed infants, and episodes of prolonged otitis media (>10 days) were 80% lower in the breastfed group 4.
Overall Hospital Admissions 1.3 X to 1.5 X
Breast-feeding only (no formula) for at least 3 months substantially reduced hospital admissions for many infectious diseases in the first 6 months of life 2. This protective effect extended to respiratory infections (36% reduction), gastrointestinal infections (49% reduction), and overall infections (39% reduction) 2. Partial breastfeeding combined with formula also reduced hospitalizations, but with smaller protective effects, demonstrating a dose-response relationship between the amount of breastfeeding and infection protection 2.
Impact on Non-Infectious Health Outcomes
The switch from breastfeeding to formula also affects non-communicable diseases and health conditions, with effects potentially extending well beyond infancy.
Obesity and Metabolic Health 1.2 X
Formula feeding is associated with an increased risk of childhood obesity. A meta-analysis found that breastfeeding was a significant protective factor against obesity in children, with formula-fed children having a 22% higher risk of obesity compared to those who were breastfed 12. The analysis also revealed a dose-response relationship, where longer breastfeeding duration provided greater protection against obesity 12.
Children breastfed for 7 months or more showed the most significant reduction in obesity risk (21% lower), while those breastfed for less than 3 months had only about a 10% decrease in obesity risk compared to those never breastfed 12. This suggests that early switching to formula may increase obesity risk.
Diabetes Risk 1.6 X
Formula feeding in infancy has been linked to a 1.6-fold increased risk of type 2 diabetes compared to breastfeeding 13. This association persists even after accounting for potential confounders, suggesting a causal relationship between early infant feeding choices and later metabolic health 13.
Allergies and Asthma 1.4 X to 1.7 X
Mixed feeding methods appear to increase the risk of food allergies in early childhood. Research presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology found that infants fed through a combination of direct breastfeeding, pumped breast milk, and formula had a 57% higher chance of developing food allergy symptoms compared to exclusively breastfed infants 20.
For asthma, meta-analyses have found a 1.7-fold increased risk among formula-fed children with a family history of asthma or atopy, and a 1.4-fold increased risk among those without such family history, compared to children breastfed for at least 3 months 13.
Cancer Risk 1.2 X to 1.3 X
The switch to formula feeding may also impact cancer risk. Meta-analyses have identified a 30% higher risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia among formula-fed children compared with children who were breastfed for at least 6 months 13. There was also a 20% higher risk of acute myeloid leukemia among formula-fed infants compared to those breastfed for more than 6 months 13.
SIDS Risk 1.6X to 2.1 X
Case-control studies suggest that formula feeding is associated with a 1.6 to 2.1-fold increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) compared to breastfeeding 13. These associations persisted after adjustment for sleeping position, maternal smoking, and socioeconomic status 13.
Mechanisms Behind Increased Disease Risk
Several biological mechanisms may explain why switching from breast milk to formula increases disease risk.
Microbiome Differences 1.7 X
Research has shown that formula-fed neonates have higher relative abundances of opportunistic pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Clostridioides difficile 8. The relative abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) carried by gut bacteria was 69% higher in formula-receiving infants compared to exclusively human milk-fed infants 8.
Formula-fed infants also had significantly fewer beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacteria, which have potential health benefits 8. These microbiome differences may contribute to both short-term infectious disease risks and long-term health outcomes.
Immunological Protection
Breast milk contains numerous immune factors that formula cannot replicate. These include:
- Immunoglobulins: Plasma cells in the mother's body migrate to the mammary epithelium and produce IgA antibodies specific to antigens in the immediate environment, providing specific protection against pathogens in the mother's surroundings 13.
- Innate immune factors: Oligosaccharides in breast milk prevent attachment of common respiratory pathogens to respiratory epithelium, and glycoproteins prevent binding of intestinal pathogens 13.
- Bioactive substances: Breast milk contains bioactive substances like leptin and ghrelin, which can influence the proliferation and differentiation of the infant's adipocytes and potentially affect metabolic health 12.
When switching to formula, these protective factors are lost, leaving the infant more vulnerable to pathogens and potentially altering metabolic development.
Nutritional Composition Differences
Formula provides different levels of nutrients compared to breast milk. Formula feeding often provides higher levels of fat and protein than the baby's needs 12. Higher protein and fat intake in early childhood have been associated with adiposity and metabolic changes that may increase disease risk 12.
The Timing of Transition Matters
The research suggests that the timing of transition from breast milk to formula is important. The protective effects of breastfeeding appear to be dose-dependent, with longer durations providing greater protection.
For infectious diseases, giving breast milk without formula for at least 3 months substantially reduced hospital admissions in the first 6 months of life 2. However, beyond 6 months of age, there was no association between breastfeeding status at 3 months and hospitalization for infectious disease 2, suggesting that early infancy is a particularly vulnerable time when breastfeeding protection is most crucial.
For obesity prevention, breastfeeding for less than 3 months provided only minor protection, while breastfeeding for 7 months or more showed significantly higher protection 12. This indicates that early switching to formula may have more detrimental effects on long-term metabolic health.
Conclusion
The evidence strongly indicates that switching from breastfeeding to infant formula is indeed a risk factor for increased childhood diseases, both infectious and non-infectious. The transition appears to impact multiple body systems and can have both immediate and long-term health consequences.
The protective effects of breast milk appear to be dose-dependent, with exclusive breastfeeding offering the greatest protection, followed by mixed feeding, with exclusive formula feeding presenting the highest risks. For many conditions, the timing of the transition is also important, with earlier switches to formula associated with greater health risks.
These findings highlight the importance of supporting breastfeeding continuation where possible and minimizing early formula introduction to reduce disease risk in children. When formula must be introduced, maintaining some breastfeeding (mixed feeding) appears to offer more protection than complete weaning to formula, though it still increases risk compared to exclusive breastfeeding.
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