Question about formula.... NOT ANOTHER DEBATE!!

Question

You may have noticed all the breastmilk vs formula debates at the minute... LOL how could you miss it and before I ask my question I just want to say that this is NOT a debate... I could not care less about how you feed you baby as long as he/she is fed.

My question is related to someone's response on another question saying that the increase in conditions in adults such as cancer and diabetes has been linked to formula use... I am wondering whether anyone has seen any research about this or (as I suspecting) this person just fabricated this to suit their argument?

Answer 1

Blah Bleh Blah WTF i was breastfed and I'm still screwed up  

Answer 2

There is actually well documented research that supports the statement that formula feeding *increases* risks for many things such as cancer and diabetes.  Simply type formula risks into a search engine and you will see plenty of reputable source responses.

*However* there are many variables involved.  You can't simply point at a person with type 2 diabetes and say it was because he was formula fed.  He may have eaten jelly doughnuts every morning for thirty years.  There are MANY factors that are increasing our populations risks for these things, and like it or not, the prevelance of formula over breastfeeding is one of them.

Center for Disease Control Results and assessment:

http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/brfouttp.h...

"We found that a history of breastfeeding was associated with a reduction in the risk of acute otitis media, non-specific gastroenteritis, severe lower respiratory tract infections, atopic dermatitis, asthma (young children), obesity, type 1 and 2 diabetes, childhood leukemia, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and necrotizing enterocolitis. "

The CDC doesn't have anything to gain by exaggerating this.

EDIT:  People PLEASE . . . breastfeeding is the natural NORM, if formula fed babies have a higher risk of certain diseases it's because formula increases those risks.  Introducing another method of feeding other than what nature intended should not be considered the norm and then feeding them naturally be considered to decrease risks . . . that simply doesn't make sense!

Desert Mama:  You are so right it is just splitting hairs . . . the terminology doesn't change the statistical difference . . . it just gets on my nerves.

Answer 3

I've never heard anything that formula INCREASES the risk of certain diseases, only that breastfed babies seem to have a DECREASED risk of developing things like cancer, allergies, eczema, diabetes, obesity, etc.  What I think this should be interpreted as is, Breast is Best, but formula isn't going to CREATE problems...it just doesn't provide what the babies need to fight these diseases as well as breast milk might.  There are so many different reasons for making the choice to breast feed or formula feed.  God bless all the moms!!  

Answer 4

"NaturalNews) Breastfed babies may run a 39 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life, according to a new study by University of London researchers appearing in the latest issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. "

"A joint study between the United States and Canada on neuroblastoma, a common childhood cancer, revealed a doubled risk for children who did not receive breast milk for more than one year. This study is consistent with several other childhood cancer studies in other nations, with results ranging from 1.45 to 4 times the risk for developing various common childhood cancers for formula-fed babies"

Answer 5

Does breastfeeding decrease risk, does formula increase risk? Honestly, and I don't mean this in any judgmental or obnoxious way, but it really is splitting hairs. If you accept that breastfeeding is the biological norm, then it is logical to say that using formula increases risk.

And there is quite a bit of solid evidence that shows that breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from a whole list of illness and health problems throughout their life. I would look at the World Health Organization, the AAP, and other medical organizations that deal with infant nutrition.

Answer 6

Actually there is scientific evidence that SUGGESTS a lower incidence of certain cancers in breastfed babies into adulthood.  One of those cancer's is leukemia.   That doesn't mean though that formula feeding INCREASES a child's risk, it just means that breastfeeding lowers it.  Most of the results of studies like that are posted in medical journals so if you have access to a campus library, you can find the studies there (that's where I found them anyway).

Answer 7

i don't know the correct answer but with everything baby they are not sure..hence..tummy..back..side sleeping..to each his own.. i don't bash breastfeeders.. they shouldn't bash formula feeders.. and just like you said .."WHO CARES AS LONG AS THE BABYIS FED"

Answer 8

Never read anything about this.  Some people just make up things to make ppl mad.  If there are studies done, theres not enough proof to say that formula is causing cancer.