Breast Milk - Really That Miraculous?

Over at Adventures in Ethics and Science Janet has an informative article about that breast-feeding brouhaha. She's looking at the actual studies (yes! Gasp! the actual studies!) used as its basis.

Today, I want to point you to an examination of those very claims by Rebecca Goldin (Director of Research, Statistical Assessment Service, Assistant Professor, Mathematical Sciences at George Mason University), Emer Smyth (Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at Univ. of Pennsylvania), and Andrea Foulkes (Assistant Professor of Biostatistics at Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst). Will it surprise you that the data don't seem to support the conclusion that breastmilk has miraculous powers?

For instance - that 21% reduced risk of death?

But turn to the AAP's source. The scientific study used to support this claim found that babies who are nursed are less likely to die... of injuries!

Yep. As she asks, "Is this because breasts are softer than formula cans ... or is this one of those 'don't mistake correlation for causation moments?'"

And it gets better... or worse, as you choose to define it.

Go there now and read the whole post.