Human
milk and intestinal host defense in newborns: an update.
Xanthou M, Bines
J, Walker WA.
Neonatal Division, Aghia Sophra Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
In this update of the role of breast milk ingestion on passive and
active protection of the human neonate, new observations and studies
are presented that appear to support the concept that preterm and
term infants should receive their mother's milk so far as possible.
New objective evidence has been presented to support the role of breast
milk in the protection of the newborn from intestinal and systemic
infections. New concepts of the active role of breast milk growth
factors on an accelerated development of the infant's own mucosal
barrier function are presented, as well as preliminary data to support
the role of breast milk growth factors in gut development. This new
area of breast milk function, however, requires extensive clinical
studies to support the practical value of breast milk in the development
of the infant's own defenses.
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