Applied nutritional investigationEffect of suboptimal breast-feeding on occurrence of autism: A case-control study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between suboptimal breast-feeding practices and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).MethodsA case-control study was conducted in 102 ASD cases and 102 matched healthy controls.ResultsBased on adjusted odds ratios from logistic regression models, ASD was found to be associated with the late initiation of breast-feeding (odds ratio 1.48, 95% confidence interval 1.01-3.1), a non-intake of colostrum (odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.03-4.3), prelacteal feeding, and bottle-feeding. The risk of ASD was found to decrease in a dose-response fashion over increasing periods of exclusive breast-feeding (P for trend = 0.04) and continued breast-feeding (P for trend = 0.001).ConclusionThe study indicates that increased ASD risk is generally associated with suboptimal breast-feeding practices.