Mother's Milk Cuts Leukemia Risk by 19 Pct in Breastfeeding Study

A new studying claims breastfeeding can significantly cut risk of childhood Leukemia but has not convinced the scientific community.

According to ABC Science, researchers at Israel's Hafia University reviewed 18 past studies to conclude that children who were breastfed as infants for six months or more had 19 percent lower risk compared to children who were given milk solution or breastfed for shorter duration.

"Breastfeeding is a highly accessible, low-cost public health measure. This meta-analysis that included studies not featured in previous meta-analyses on the subject indicates that promoting breastfeeding for 6 months or more may help lower childhood leukemia incidence, in addition to its other health benefits for children and mothers," researchers wrote in JAMA Pediatrics.

The study however does not explain the link between breastfeeding, breast milk and reduced risk of cancer.

Experts who were not convinced, said such associations were known to be around for long, but haven't been rigorously proved by the likes of present study which seek to known from parents what they had done when their babies were born years ago.

Some others said that the study fits with other research which concluded that infants exposed to infections early on had better immunity.

Childhood Leukemia accounts for 30 percent of all childhood caners with unknown etiology, and is leading cause of mortality among children and adolescents, the researchers wrote.