Breastfed at Tiffany's.
The importance of breast milk for the growing infant is undisputed; breastfeeding decreases infantile mortality by tenfold and decreases the incidence of infectious diseases. Despite its recognized benefits, the structural richness of breast milk has also impeded the characterization of the multiple effects of milk components on infant physiology. However, the important roles of some components of breast milk are beginning to be dissected. For instance, molecules such as immunoglobulin A (IgA) and milk oligosaccharides protect from gastrointestinal infections and influence the development of the gut microbiota. Deciphering the complex composition of breast milk brings to light multifaceted contributions that combine to make breast milk the ultimate personalized medicine.
Department of Physiology and Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich, Switzerland. Electronic address: thierry.hennet@uzh.ch.
Thierry
T
Hennet
Department of Physiology and Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich, Switzerland.
Lubor
L
Borsig
D001942:Breast Feeding; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005700:Galactosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000276:immunology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007223:Infant; D007768:Lactalbumin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D051269:Sodium-Glucose Transporter 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D009844:Oligosaccharides; C495674:SLC5A1 protein, human; D051269:Sodium-Glucose Transporter 1; D007768:Lactalbumin; D005700:Galactosyltransferases; C119701:beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase I
IgA; breast milk; lactase; lactose; microbiota; oligosaccharide