Breastfeeding provides protection against gastrointestinal illness in infants during the first two years of life. A prospective observational study of 674 mother-infant pairs in Dundee, Scotland, found that infants breastfed for 13 weeks or more had significantly lower rates of gastrointestinal illness compared to those bottle-fed from birth. This protective effect persisted beyond the period of breastfeeding and was accompanied by a reduction in hospital admissions. However, no consistent protective effect was observed against respiratory, ear, eye, mouth, or skin infections, infantile colic, eczema, or nappy rash. The study concluded that breastfeeding during the first 13 weeks of life confers protection against gastrointestinal illness that persists beyond the period of breastfeeding. The study was conducted to assess the relationship between breastfeeding and infant illness, particularly gastrointestinal disease. It involved 750 mother-infant pairs, with 674 followed up for two years. Detailed observations of infant feeding and illness were made at various intervals. The main outcome measure was the prevalence of gastrointestinal disease in infants during follow-up. The study found that infants breastfed for 13 weeks or more had significantly lower rates of gastrointestinal illness compared to those bottle-fed from birth. This protective effect was observed at multiple time points and was not affected by the introduction of supplements before 13 weeks. The study also found that the protective effect of breastfeeding against gastrointestinal illness persisted beyond the period of breastfeeding. The study was conducted in accordance with the methodological criteria recommended by Bauchner et al. The study design minimized detection bias by using a combination of home visits and retrospective review of general practice records. The definitions of disease outcomes were based on those used by Chandra. The study found that the protective effect of breastfeeding against gastrointestinal illness was consistent across different time periods and was not influenced by confounding variables such as maternal age, social class, or parental smoking. The study also found that the protective effect of breastfeeding against gastrointestinal illness was not affected by the introduction of supplements before 13 weeks. The study found that breastfeeding provided a protective effect against gastrointestinal illness in infants during the first two years of life. The protective effect was most pronounced in infants breastfed for 13 weeks or more. The study also found that the protective effect of breastfeeding against gastrointestinal illness persisted beyond the period of breastfeeding. The study concluded that breastfeeding during the first 13 weeks of life confers protection against gastrointestinal illness that persists beyond the period of breastfeeding. The study also found that the protective effect of breastfeeding against gastrointestinal illness was not affected by the introduction of supplements before 13 weeks. The study found that the protective effect of breastfeeding against gastrointestinal illness was consistent across different time periods and was not influenced by confounding variables such as maternal age, social class, or parental smoking. The study also found that the protective effect of breastfeeding against gastrointestinal illness was not affected by the introduction of supplements before 13 weeks.Breastfeeding provides protection against gastrointestinal illness in infants during the first two years of life. A prospective observational study of 674 mother-infant pairs in Dundee, Scotland, found that infants breastfed for 13 weeks or more had significantly lower rates of gastrointestinal illness compared to those bottle-fed from birth. This protective effect persisted beyond the period of breastfeeding and was accompanied by a reduction in hospital admissions. However, no consistent protective effect was observed against respiratory, ear, eye, mouth, or skin infections, infantile colic, eczema, or nappy rash. The study concluded that breastfeeding during the first 13 weeks of life confers protection against gastrointestinal illness that persists beyond the period of breastfeeding. The study was conducted to assess the relationship between breastfeeding and infant illness, particularly gastrointestinal disease. It involved 750 mother-infant pairs, with 674 followed up for two years. Detailed observations of infant feeding and illness were made at various intervals. The main outcome measure was the prevalence of gastrointestinal disease in infants during follow-up. The study found that infants breastfed for 13 weeks or more had significantly lower rates of gastrointestinal illness compared to those bottle-fed from birth. This protective effect was observed at multiple time points and was not affected by the introduction of supplements before 13 weeks. The study also found that the protective effect of breastfeeding against gastrointestinal illness persisted beyond the period of breastfeeding. The study was conducted in accordance with the methodological criteria recommended by Bauchner et al. The study design minimized detection bias by using a combination of home visits and retrospective review of general practice records. The definitions of disease outcomes were based on those used by Chandra. The study found that the protective effect of breastfeeding against gastrointestinal illness was consistent across different time periods and was not influenced by confounding variables such as maternal age, social class, or parental smoking. The study also found that the protective effect of breastfeeding against gastrointestinal illness was not affected by the introduction of supplements before 13 weeks. The study found that breastfeeding provided a protective effect against gastrointestinal illness in infants during the first two years of life. The protective effect was most pronounced in infants breastfed for 13 weeks or more. The study also found that the protective effect of breastfeeding against gastrointestinal illness persisted beyond the period of breastfeeding. The study concluded that breastfeeding during the first 13 weeks of life confers protection against gastrointestinal illness that persists beyond the period of breastfeeding. The study also found that the protective effect of breastfeeding against gastrointestinal illness was not affected by the introduction of supplements before 13 weeks. The study found that the protective effect of breastfeeding against gastrointestinal illness was consistent across different time periods and was not influenced by confounding variables such as maternal age, social class, or parental smoking. The study also found that the protective effect of breastfeeding against gastrointestinal illness was not affected by the introduction of supplements before 13 weeks.