{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]],"date-time":"2026-06-11T19:57:34Z","timestamp":1781207854772,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Pakistan Medical Association","issue":"06","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]],"date-time":"2026-05-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1779926400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["J Pak Med Assoc"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complexneurodevelopmental condition with rising prevalenceglobally, including Pakistan. While genetic factorssubstantially contribute to ASD risk, environmental andearly-life nutritional factors are also being investigated.One such factor is infant feeding practices specificallybreastfeeding, its duration and exclusivity. Human breastmilk provides comprehensive protection via providingessential nutrients with immune defence andneurobiological regulation supporting optimal braindevelopment. Despite these benefits, breastfeeding ratesin Pakistan remain low. This mini-review explores theexisting literature on the potential link betweenbreastfeeding and ASD with a focus on epidemiologicalevidence and underlying biological mechanisms. Whilesome studies suggest that breastfeeding may reduce therisk of ASD, the evidence is inconclusive due tomethodological differences, recall bias, and cultural factors.Data from low- and middle-income countries is lacking andcall for an urgent need for robust longitudinal research inPakistan to better study this association and guide costeffectivepublic health strategies.Keywords: Autism, Childhood disability, Pakistan,breastfeeding practices, developmental delay,developing countries, LMIC<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.47391\/jpma.26-49","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,1]],"date-time":"2026-06-01T19:17:46Z","timestamp":1780341466000},"page":"980-983","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Exploring the association between breastfeeding and the risk of developing autism spectrum disorders"],"prefix":"10.47391","volume":"76","author":[{"family":"Rehana Yasmeen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"family":"Farah Mehboob","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"family":"Sarah Razaq","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"family":"F.A. Rathore","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"26547","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]]},"container-title":["Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.jpma.org.pk\/index.php\/public_html\/article\/download\/41870\/4880","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.jpma.org.pk\/index.php\/public_html\/article\/download\/41870\/4880","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]],"date-time":"2026-06-11T19:27:40Z","timestamp":1781206060000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.jpma.org.pk\/index.php\/public_html\/article\/view\/41870"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]]},"references-count":0,"journal-issue":{"issue":"06","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,31]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.47391\/jpma.26-49","relation":{},"ISSN":["0030-9982"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0030-9982","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]]}}}