The Importance of Human Milk for Immunity in Preterm Infants.
The immune system of preterm infants is immature, placing them at increased risk for serious immune-related complications. Human milk provides a variety of immune protective and immune maturation factors that are beneficial to the preterm infant's poorly developed immune system. The most studied immune components in human milk include antimicrobial proteins, maternal leukocytes, immunoglobulins, cytokines and chemokines, oligosaccharides, gangliosides, nucleotides, and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. There is growing evidence that these components contribute to the lower incidence of immune-related conditions in the preterm infant. Therefore, provision of these components in human milk, donor milk, or formula may provide immunologic benefits.
Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, 8602 112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada.
Erin D
ED
Lewis
Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, 8602 112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada.
Caroline
C
Richard
Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, 8602 112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Nutrition Services, Alberta Health Services, University of Alberta, 8440 112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7, Canada.
Bodil M
BM
Larsen
Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, 8602 112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada. Electronic address: catherine.field@ualberta.ca.
Catherine J
CJ
Field
D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D061186:Breast Milk Expression; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000453:epidemiology; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000276:immunology; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D007107:Immune System / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000276:immunology; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D065840:Protective Factors; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000453:epidemiology
D016207:Cytokines; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005732:Gangliosides; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D009711:Nucleotides; D009844:Oligosaccharides
Gangliosides; Immunoglobulins; Inflammation; Leukocytes; Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids; Maturation; Peptides