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Breast milk-it is one miracle drink the potential of which is yet not completely known. New studies are happening every day and there's a new dynamic that develops which states yet another unknown benefit of breast milk. “In truth, we have only begun to understand milk and how it helps both infants and mothers. It is an embarrassment to the entire scientific community that we have been so slow in recognizing that milk is so special," says Prof. Bruce German, Director of the Foods for Health Institute at the University of California, Davis. And when it comes to immunity building of the child, breast milk in itself is one health intervention that needs to be placed alongside vaccination.
A strong connection has been found to base the relationship between immunity and breastfeeding. As the World Immunization Week (24 April to 30 April) begins, we got in touch with Dr. Srinivas Murki, in-charge of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Fernandez Hospital, Hyderabad. "Unravelling the mysteries of breast milk," he explained how latest developments about the subject have helped bring to light yet unknown connections between the child's immunity and breastfeeding.
"Breastfeeding is the only health intervention that can reduce infant mortality by 13 per cent," Dr Murki said. Feeding human milk to infants has the potential to save 800,000 lives every year globally. It also has the potential to prevent asthma, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, respiratory infections and sudden death syndrome in the infants.
Dr Murki talked about the latest interventions that are happening around the subject of breastfeeding. He said that latest research has found that galactose, a sugar compound, can only be sourced through breast milk and helps form nucleotides in infants. In simpler words, it is a compound that is essential for the brain growth of the child.
Also, another compound called human milk oligosaccharides, found in breast milk, was thought to be of no use till now. However, latest studies show that it helps in development of friendly gut bacteria, both pre- and pro-biotic in the child. “In fact, oligosaccharides' percentage in the milk is even greater than its protein content, meaning that the compound had to hold a very significant role,” said the doctor.
"We live in a micro world, that means the number of bacteria in our bodies is more than that of cells. Hence, healthy bacteria is essential for our proper growth and to prevent many, many diseases," Dr Murki added.
The role of breastfeeding, especially the administration of colostrum (the first form of milk produced by breasts, is very significant in improving the infant's immunity. If the baby is premature, the role of colostrum and breastfeeding in general becomes more important as it significantly reduces the risk of death by infections (almost by 50 per cent) in premature babies, said Dr Murki.
The other benefits of breast milk, that is its impact of the thymus gland, the seeding of immunity in an infant and on IgA are already known, said the doctor. However, these new interventions have given the subject even more importance in its relationship with immunity.
Exclusive breastfeeding till six months and breastfeeding along with administration of other nutrition till two years is peremptory to ensure a healthy life for the infant. Both vaccination as well as breastfeeding need to complement each other to boost the immunity of an infant.
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