It's often said that 'breast is best,' and now, new research from Japan reveals another reason mothers may choose to pass on cow's milk-based formula. Japanese research says infants who receive cow's milk-based formula in addition to breast milk are nearly twice as likely to develop asthma or recurrent wheeze. Specifically, among infants who received milk formula as a supplement to breastfeeding from birth to 5 months, 18% developed asthma or recurrent wheezing. But just 10% of the infants who were either breastfed only, or who received breast milk plus amino acid-based elemental formula, had such problems. The researchers suggest that human breast milk may contain certain unknown nutrients that bolster babies' immune systems and gut bacteria.
