Advances in the mechanisms underlying the association between breastfeeding and autoimmune diseases

FENG Dan, SONG Yanjun, QIN Dongyuan, WANG Fan

Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2026, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (4) : 444-448.

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Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2026, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (4) : 444-448. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-0794
Review

Advances in the mechanisms underlying the association between breastfeeding and autoimmune diseases

  • FENG Dan1, SONG Yanjun1, QIN Dongyuan1, WANG Fan2
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Abstract

The health benefits of breastfeeding extend far beyond basic nutrition, and its potential role in reducing the risk of autoimmune diseases in children has attracted increasing attention.Breast milk contains a wide range of immunomodulatory components, including antibodies, lactoferrin, cytokines, and shapes the neonatal microbiome, collectively promoting immune maturation and the development of balanced immune tolerance.This review examines the protective mechanisms of breastfeeding against autoimmune diseases and outlines future research directions.A deeper understanding of the immune-protective role of breastfeeding will not only provide new insights into the etiology of autoimmune diseases, but also lay an important theoretical foundation for developing effective primary prevention and public health strategies.This review summarizes the protective effects of breastfeeding against autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and discusses the underlying mechanisms.

Key words

breastfeeding / autoimmune diseases / protective mechanisms / immunomodulation

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FENG Dan, SONG Yanjun, QIN Dongyuan, WANG Fan. Advances in the mechanisms underlying the association between breastfeeding and autoimmune diseases[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2026, 34(4): 444-448 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-0794

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