Recommendation of 6 Months of Breast-Feeding Scrutinized

Still think they have any idea what they are talking about?

The evidence in favor of 6 months of exclusive breast-feeding has come under scrutiny in a new study published by the BMJ.

A review article assessing the evidence was published by researcher Mary Fewtrell, MD, from the Child Nutrition Research Center at the University College London Institute of Child Health, United Kingdom, and colleagues was published online January 13 in the BMJ.

Current World Health Organization guidelines recommend that infants be exclusively breast-fed for 6 months; that is, with a diet that excludes solids or any fluids other than breast milk, including infant formulas. These guidelines, announced in 2001, were adopted by the United Kingdom in 2003.


Exclusive breast-feeding may not adequately meet infants' energy needs for a full 6 months.
"The critical question is whether the United Kingdom should alter its advice on the introduction of complementary foods while new evidence is assembled," the authors note.

The current report maintains that this change in policy occurred without formal consideration of the scientific evidence.

You can bet that policies without basis in scientific evidence is not rare.

To wit, diet advice.