Antiinfective Properties of Human Milk1

Autor: Roberto Marzollo, Chiara Fonte, Gaetano Chirico, Sheila Cortinovis, Antonella Gasparoni
Rok vydání: 2008
Předmět:
Zdroj: The Journal of Nutrition. 138:1801S-1806S
ISSN: 0022-3166
Popis: The unfavorable effects of neonatal immunodeficiency are limited by some naturally occurring compensatory mechanisms, such as the introduction of protective and immunological components of human milk in the infant. Breast-feeding maintains the maternal-fetal immunological link after birth, may favor the transmission of immunocompetence from the mother to her infant, and is considered an important contributory factor to the neonatal immune defense system during a delicate and crucial period for immune development. Several studies have reported that breast-feeding, because of the antimicrobial activity against several viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, may reduce the incidence of infection in infants. The protection from infections may be ensured either passively by factors with antiinfective, hormonal, enzymatic, trophic, and bioactive activity present in breast milk, or through a modulator effect on the neonatal immune system exerted by cells, cytokines, and other immune agents in human milk.
Databáze: OpenAIRE