Breast Milk: A Meal Worth Having

Abstract

A mother is gifted with breast milk, the natural source of nutrition for her infant. In addition to the wealth of macro and micro-nutrients, human milk also contains many microorganisms, few of which originate from the mother, while others are acquired from the mouth of the infant and the surroundings. Among these microbes, the most commonly residing bacteria are Staphylococci, Streptococci, Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria. These microorganisms initiate and help the development of the milk microbiota as well as the microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract in infants, and contribute to developing immune regulatory factors such as cytokines, growth factors, lactoferrin among others. These factors play an important role in reducing the risk of developing chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, asthma and others later in life. In this review, we will summarize the known benefits of breastfeeding and highlight the role of the breast milk microbiota and its cross-talk with the immune system in breastfed babies during the early years of life.

Keywords: breastfeeding; chronic diseases; delivery; immune system; microbiota.

Figure 1

Breastfeeding facts and figures: the recommendations from WHO and UNICEF, comparison of the percentage of babies breastfed at 2 years region wise. Steps and stages of breastmilk production.

Figure 2

Magical ways in which breastmilk changes to adapt to babies needs.

Figure 3

Breastmilk ensures that fewer pathogenic viruses colonize infant intestine: at one month prophages are induced from the pioneering bacteria providing the first population of virus-like particles. By four months of life, multiple human viruses are abundantly detected in stool samples from babies.Viral populations differ depending on the feeding mode and components of breast milk are protective against viral infections.

Figure 4

Potential factors influencing the breastmilk bacteriome: mode of delivery, maternal factors, lactation stage, and geographical region influence human milk composition.

Figure 5

Overview of the human breast milk composition and its impact on infant's development.