Breastfeeding as a baby could slow MS progression later in life
Study finds adult patients who were breastfed longer had less severe MS
Written by |
- Longer infant breastfeeding may delay MS onset and slow its progression.
- Adults with MS breastfed longer showed less severe disease and lower disability.
- Breast milk is thought to offer protection against autoimmune diseases.
Breastfeeding for longer during infancy may delay the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) and slow its progression for people who later develop the disease, according to a study from Turkey.
Researchers found that adults with MS who had been breastfed for more than six months had less severe disease than those who had been breastfed for shorter periods. Each additional two months of breastfeeding was associated with significantly lower disability levels.
The findings suggest that “long-term breastfeeding may delay the age of onset and slow down the disease progression in MS patients,” the researchers wrote. However, they cautioned that the study’s design and small sample size mean further studies are needed to confirm the results.
The study, “Association between breastfeeding duration and disability in multiple sclerosis,” was published in Acta Neurologica Belgica.
MS occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and damages healthy tissue in the brain and spinal cord, leading to a wide range of symptoms. While its exact causes remain unknown, several risk factors are believed to contribute to its development.
Breastmilk’s protective role
Prolonged breastfeeding during infancy has been linked to a reduced risk of several autoimmune diseases, and growing evidence suggests it may also play a protective role in MS.
Breast milk contains a complex mix of immune cells, antibodies, anti-inflammatory molecules, and other bioactive proteins critical to the development of the immune system during the neonatal period. By modulating the immune system earlier in life, these components are also “thought to exert a protective effect against autoimmune diseases in adulthood,” the researchers wrote. “However, studies examining the long-term effects of breastfeeding in MS are still very limited, and further evidence is needed on this subject.”
The team interviewed 105 adults with an MS diagnosis at a neurology clinic in Turkey between July and December 2023. Participants were asked about their infancy feeding history, including how long they were breastfed, along with medical and demographic information. All patients also underwent a detailed clinical examination.
Most participants were women (70%), and the mean age was 38.7. The mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, a standard measure of disability in MS, was 2.02, indicating minimal disability.
All participants had received breast milk as infants, but for varying amounts of time. Nineteen participants (18%) had been breastfed for less than six months, 25 (24%) for six to 12 months, and 61 (58%) for longer than 12 months.
While breastfeeding duration was not significantly associated with place of residence, MS type, or symptom profile, or history of MS treatment, it was significantly linked to disease severity.
Patients who had been breastfed for less than six months showed significantly higher disability levels, with a mean EDSS score of 3.74. In comparison, those breastfed for 6 to 12 months had a mean EDSS score of 1.92, while those breastfed for more than 12 months had the lowest mean score, 1.52 — suggesting potentially slower disease progression.
After accounting for factors such as age, disease duration, MS type, and history of MS treatment, breastfeeding duration remained independently associated with EDSS scores. Further analyses showed that each additional two months of breastfeeding was linked to a 0.487-point decrease in EDSS score.
“Consistent with our findings, several studies have reported that breastfeeding may alleviate neurological symptoms in patients with MS and, by supporting immune system development in early life, may contribute to a more favorable disease course,” the researchers wrote. “Our findings suggest that prolonged breastfeeding may be associated with a reduction in the clinical severity of MS.”
The team also observed a trend toward later disease onset among patients who had been breastfed longer. Those breastfed for less than six months developed MS at a mean age of 26.8, compared with 30.1 for those breastfed for six to 12 months and 30.9 among those breastfed for more than a year.
“Breast milk contains bioactive components that support immunological development, which may delay the onset of autoimmune diseases,” the researchers wrote. “In this context, the finding that patients with longer breastfeeding duration had a later age at MS onset further supports this protective effect.”
