British researchers concluded that, contrary to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), the lure of children with breastfeeding should be introduced before six months of age, reports BBC.

In 2001, WHO issued global recommendations for feeding children, which stated that up to six months the best nutrition for the baby is mother's milk without any additives. A number of countries, including the United States, the former Soviet republics and 65 percent of EU members, refused to bring their national recommendations fully in line with international ones, but in most states, including Great Britain, they acted.

A group of experts from University College London, as well as Edinburgh and Birmingham universities published an authoritative scientific publication British Medical Journal article, which proposes to introduce complementary foods from the age of four. According to the authors, this will help reduce the risk of food allergies and iron deficiency in the child.

However, British pediatricians agree that for developing countries, where clean drinking water and safe complementary foods are not available to everyone and not always, international recommendations are the most rational. This is confirmed by the fact that, according to a meta-analysis of 16 studies (seven of them conducted in developing countries), on which WHO recommendations are based, breastfeeding up to six months reduces the incidence of infectious diseases and growth retardation.

However, a survey of 33 studies conducted by the British did not reveal the reasons why high-quality complementary foods should not be introduced to children of four months of age. Moreover, a number of scientific papers have shown that one breastfeeding does not provide a child aged four to six months with absolutely all the necessary nutrients.

Thus, for example, American researchers found that the introduction of complementary foods from the sixth month increases the risk of anemia compared to the fourth, and Swedish scientists have found a similar dependence for celiac disease (intolerance to the protein gluten of cereals).

One of the authors of the study, director of the Institute for Children's Health at University College London Alan Lucas concluded that developed countries need a "balanced view of evidence" rather than unconditional adoption of WHO recommendations.

The study leader, Mary Fewtrell, added that somehow many children are weaned before the age of six months, and grow up healthy, which is an additional confirmation of the safety of early feeding.

The point of view of scientists was criticized by some representatives of the British Ministry of Health and the authors of the official recommendations for feeding. In their opinion, the assertion about the insufficient nutritional value of breast milk up to six months is unreasonable, retrograde and lobbying the interests of the producers of baby food.

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