title: [Epigenetic effects of human breastfeeding].
abstract: Breastfeeding is well-known for its benefits of preventing communicable and non-communicable diseases. Human breastmilk consists not only of nutrients, but also of bioactive substances. What's more, the epigenetic effects of human breast milk may also play an important role. Alterations in the epigenetic regulation of genes may lead to profound changes in phenotype. Clarifying the role of human breast milk on genetic expression can potentially benefit the infant's health and his later life. This review article makes a brief summary of the epigenetic mechanism of breast milk, and its epigenetic effects on neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis, infectious diseases, metabolism syndrome, cognitive function and anaphylactic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China. littlemaria@126.com.
authors.forename: Jing-Ran
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Dan-Hua
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D003071:Cognition; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics