Chad A Logan1, Johannes M Weiss2, Wolfgang Koenig3,4, Bernd Stahl5, Prudence R Carr6, Hermann Brenner6, Dietrich Rothenbacher1, Jon Genuneit1. 1. Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany. 2. Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany. 3. Department of Internal Medicine II-Cardiology, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany. 4. Clinic for Cardiovascular Disease-German Heart Center, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany. 5. Human Milk Research, Danona Nutricia Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands. 6. Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Soluble CD14 (sCD14) is one of many factors in human breast milk which may influence programming of the immune response in the breastfed child. Although previous studies have mostly found little association between sCD14 concentration in breast milk and atopic outcomes, recent evidence continues to support a role of sCD14 in immune-related disease. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to clarify whether an association exists between sCD14 concentration in human breast milk (m-sCD14) and child atopic dermatitis (AD) diagnosis by age 3 years within the context of two large birth cohorts. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Ulm Birth Cohort Study (UBCS) and the Ulm SPATZ Health Study, methodologically similar birth cohort studies, each consisting of approximately 1000 newborns and their mothers recruited from the general population shortly after delivery in Ulm, Southern Germany, respectively, from 11/2000 to 11/2001 and 04/2012 to 05/2013. sCD14 concentrations were measured by different ELISAs (UBCS: IBL, SPATZ: R&D) in breast milk samples collected at 6 weeks post-delivery in both studies and additionally at 6 months and 1 year in SPATZ. Children's AD diagnosis was assessed using parent and paediatrician reports at 1, 2 and 3 years of age. RESULTS: Complete exposure and outcome data were available for 659 UBCS and 489 SPATZ children. In both cohorts, sCD14 concentration was significantly associated with breastfeeding frequency (P < 0.01). We observed no association between m-sCD14 concentration and child AD diagnosis in either study. CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not support an association between sCD14 concentration in mature breast milk and AD among breastfed children.
BACKGROUND: Soluble CD14 (sCD14) is one of many factors in humanbreast milk which may influence programming of the immune response in the breastfed child. Although previous studies have mostly found little association between sCD14 concentration in breast milk and atopic outcomes, recent evidence continues to support a role of sCD14 in immune-related disease. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to clarify whether an association exists between sCD14 concentration in humanbreast milk (m-sCD14) and childatopic dermatitis (AD) diagnosis by age 3 years within the context of two large birth cohorts. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Ulm Birth Cohort Study (UBCS) and the Ulm SPATZ Health Study, methodologically similar birth cohort studies, each consisting of approximately 1000 newborns and their mothers recruited from the general population shortly after delivery in Ulm, Southern Germany, respectively, from 11/2000 to 11/2001 and 04/2012 to 05/2013. sCD14 concentrations were measured by different ELISAs (UBCS: IBL, SPATZ: R&D) in breast milk samples collected at 6 weeks post-delivery in both studies and additionally at 6 months and 1 year in SPATZ. Children's AD diagnosis was assessed using parent and paediatrician reports at 1, 2 and 3 years of age. RESULTS: Complete exposure and outcome data were available for 659 UBCS and 489 SPATZ children. In both cohorts, sCD14 concentration was significantly associated with breastfeeding frequency (P < 0.01). We observed no association between m-sCD14 concentration and childAD diagnosis in either study. CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not support an association between sCD14 concentration in mature breast milk and AD among breastfed children.