Probiotic Administration in Early Life, Atopy, and Asthma: A Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials

REVIEWER COMMENTS. The authors conclude that early introduction of solids was associated with the development of food allergy, which supports the current recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics to breastfeed exclusively and to delay introduction of solids until 4 to 6 months of age. Data are accumulating to suggest that breastfeeding seems protective against food allergies and that there is a critical window in which solid foods, including highly allergenic foods such as cow’s milk, eggs, and peanut, should be introduced in infancy. Breastfeeding should also continue concurrently for 2 to 3 months while cow’s milk and solids are introduced into the diet because it is thought to play a role in the development of oral tolerance.