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Meta-Analysis
. 2021 Apr 7:12:661806.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.661806. eCollection 2021.

Breastfeeding and COVID-19: From Nutrition to Immunity

Emilia Vassilopoulou  1 , Gavriela Feketea  2   3 , Lemonica Koumbi  1 , Christina Mesiari  1 , Elena Camelia Berghea  4   5 , George N Konstantinou  6
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Breastfeeding and COVID-19: From Nutrition to Immunity

Emilia Vassilopoulou et al. Front Immunol. .

Abstract

Breastfeeding not only provides the optimum source of nutrients for the neonate and its first strong shield against infection but also lays the foundation for somatic and psychological bonding between the mother and child. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, although the guidelines of the relevant international and national agencies recommend breastfeeding by SARS-CoV-2-infected mothers, considerable insecurity persists in daily clinical practice regarding the safety of the infants and the perceived advantages and disadvantages of discontinuation of breastfeeding. This is a systematic review of the currently available information regarding the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 through or while breastfeeding and the protection against infection that breast milk might provide. The accumulated body of knowledge regarding the role of breast milk in the development of the neonatal immune system and protection against infection by other respiratory viruses is discussed, with a focus on the anti-inflammatory role of the antibodies, microbes, and viruses provided to the infant in breast milk and its relevance to the case of SARS-CoV-2.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; anti-inflammation; antibodies; breastfeeding; microbiome; respiratory infection; virome.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Graphical Abstract
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1
Figure 1
Search strategy flowchart for original articles on breastfeeding and SARS-Cov-2. M, Mother; I, Infant. +: SARS-CoV-2 infected, -: negative for SARS-CoV-2.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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