Breastfeeding brings clear short-term benefits for child health by reducing mortality and morbidity from infectious diseases. A collaborative reanalysis of studies conducted in middle/lowincome countries reported a reduced risk of mortality from infectious diseases among breastfed infants, up to the second birthday. Kramer et al reviewed the evidence on the effects on child health and growth of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. Infants who were exclusively breastfed for 6 months presented lower morbidity from gastrointestinal and allergic diseases, while showing similar growth rates to non-breastfed children. Based on such evidence, WHO and UNICEF now recommend that every infant should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, with continued breastfeeding for up to two years or longer.

Evidence on the long-term effects of breastfeeding. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses. 2007

Short-term effects of breastfeeding. A systematic review on the benefits of breastfeeding on diarrhoea and pneumonia mortality. 2013

Long-term effects of breastfeeding, A systematic review. 2013

 

Articles from journals. Systematic review and meta-analysis.

1. Breastfeeding and maternal health outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2015

2. Effect of breastfeeding on malocclusions: a systematic review and metaanalysis, 2015

3. Breastfeeding and the risk of dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2015

4. Interventions to improve breastfeeding outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2015

5. Breastfeeding and asthma and allergies: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2015

6. Long-term consequences of breastfeeding on cholesterol, obesity, systolic blood pressure and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2015

7. Summarising the health effects of breastfeeding, 2015

8. Breastfeeding and intelligence: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2015

9. Optimal breastfeeding practices and infant and child mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2015

10. Breastfeeding and childhood acute otitis media: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2015

11. Effect of breastfeeding promotion interventions on child growth: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2015

12. Optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding (Review), 2012

13. Early additional food and fluids for healthy breastfed full-term infants (Review), 2011