Babies Born Via CSection May Be More Prone to Food Allergies
WebMD Health News
Oct. 20, 2004 Babies born via caesarean section (Csection) may face a higher risk of food allergies and diarrhea as infants than others, a new study shows.
German researchers found babies born via Csection were twice as likely to be sensitive to common foods, such as cows’ milk, at 12 months of age as babies born vaginally. Csection babies were also more likely to have diarrhea during their first year of life.
Researchers say the findings agree with previous research that has demonstrated the importance of bacteria in the gut in the development of a healthy immune system. By bypassing the vaginal birth canal, researchers say that caesarean sections alter or delay normal bacterial development in the baby’s gut.
The results of the study appear in the November issue of the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
CSection May Raise Food Allergy Risks
In the study, researchers looked at 865 healthy, fullterm babies whose parents had a history of allergies and were part of the German Infant Nutritional Intervention Study. The babies were all exclusively breastfed during the first four months and had followup visits at 1, 4, 8, and 12 months of age.
Blood samples taken at 12 months checked for antibodies to common food allergens (allergycausing substances) including eggs, cows’ milk proteins, and soy protein. The parents also kept weekly diaries on their children’s health and feeding for the first six months.
Overall, 147 (17%) of the babies were born by Csection. Caesarean delivery was four times more likely among mothers who had already had a Csection for a previous birth.
The study showed that neither colicky pain nor eczema symptoms associated with food allergies during the first four months was associated with the method of delivery.
But babies born by Csection were 46% more likely to have diarrhea up to age 12 months than vaginally delivered babies.
In addition, Csection babies were also twice as likely to be sensitive to cows’ milk and any of the other five food allergens tested at age 12 months.
Researchers suggest that babies delivered via the vaginal canal acquire the mother’s vaginal, intestinal, and other bacteria, which may help protect them and promote a healthy immune system. But babies born via Csection acquire bacteria from the hospital environment that may increase the risk of food allergies and other problems.
