Does Early Weaning Lead to Alcoholism?

In an intriguing study by a group of Danish and American researchers reported in the April, 2006 edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry, a significant relationship was found between early weaning (termination of breast feeding) and later hospitalization with an alcohol-related diagnosis.  The study involved a prospective longitudinal analysis of available records on 6,562 men and women born in Copenhagen between October 1959 and December 1961.  Although a number of risk factors were identified including gender, parental alcoholism, and maternal smoking during pregnancy, the link between shortened length of breastfeeding and later alcoholism in both men and women was quite apparent.

The research study abstract can be viewed online through the American Journal of Psychiatry using the above link.   

Comments

[the constant skeptic]

good post