title: Nutritional support for the infant's immune system.
abstract: Newborn babies possess a functional but immature immune system as a defense against a world teeming with microorganisms. Breast milk contains a number of biological, active compounds that support the infant's immune system. These include secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA), which confers specific protection against enteric pathogens, as well as numerous other immunological, active ingredients. A number of these ingredients can be used as supplements for infant formulas based on cow's milk. Here, the strength of evidence regarding the immune-stimulating effects of selected minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, pre- and probiotics, and nucleotides is reviewed. An assessment of how these ingredients are used in infant-formula products currently available on the market is also presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Laetitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Niers
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stasse-Wolthuis
authors.forename: Frans M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Rombouts
authors.forename: Ger T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Rijkers
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000276:immunology; D041943:Infant Formula; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000276:immunology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000276:immunology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D019936:Probiotics
chemical_list: D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D009711:Nucleotides