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©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 21, 2009; 15(3): 270-279
Published online Jan 21, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.270
Published online Jan 21, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.270
Breastfeeding and genetic factors in the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease in children
Theresa A Mikhailov, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9000 W. Wisconsin Avenue, MS# 681, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
Sylvia E Furner, School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois Chicago 1603 W. Taylor St., M/C 923, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
Author contributions: Mikhailov TA contributed 85% of the work, Furner SE contributed 15% of the work; Mikhailov TA conducted the literature review; Mikhailov TA prepared the initial draft of this manuscript; Furner SE provided guidance throughout the preparation of this manuscript; Furner SE made significant revisions to drafts of this manuscript; Mikhailov TA prepared the final draft of this manuscript.
Correspondence to: Theresa A Mikhailov, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9000 W. Wisconsin Avenue, MS# 681, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States. tmikhail@mcw.edu
Telephone: +1-414-2663360
Fax: +1-414-2663563
Received: October 13, 2008
Revised: December 17, 2008
Accepted: December 24, 2008
Published online: January 21, 2009
Revised: December 17, 2008
Accepted: December 24, 2008
Published online: January 21, 2009
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic, debilitating disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. The etiology of inflammatory bowel disease has not been elucidated, but is thought to be multifactorial with both environ-mental and genetic influences. A large body of research has been conducted to elucidate the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease. This article reviews this literature, emphasizing the studies of breastfeeding and the studies of genetic factors, particularly NOD2 polymorphisms.
Keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease; Crohn’s disease; Ulcerative colitis; Etiology; Risk factors; Protective factors; NOD2/CARD15; Single nucleotide polymorphisms