Breast Is Best for Babies: ADVANTAGES OF BREASTFEEDING

Nutritional Considerations
Human milk contains the appropriate proportions of protein, carbohydrates, fat, minerals and vitamins for optimal growth, with the exception of vitamins D and K. All newborn infants should receive vitamin К at birth, and breastfed infants should receive vita-min-D supplementation until the diet provides an adequate source of vitamin D. The whey/casein ratio of human milk is approximately 72:28, whereas the whey/casein ratio of whole cow’s milk is approximately 18:82. The whey/casein ratio in infant formulas range through 18:82, 60:40 or 100% whey. Whey proteins are acidified in the stomach, forming soft flocculent curds that are more easily digested than casein, which forms tough, hard-to-digest curds in the stomach. The amino acids taurine and cysteine are present in much higher concentrations in human milk than in whole cow’s milk. These amino acids may be essential for premature infants. On the other hand, the amounts of methionine and phenylalanine, which are poorly tolerated by some infants, are found in lower concentrations in human milk.
The renal solute load of human milk is approximately one-third that of whole cow’s milk. The small renal solute load helps to protect the infant’s kidneys from needing to excrete a large solute load, thereby leaving a wider margin of safety in situations that may lead to dehydration.

Lactose accounts for most of the carbohydrates in human milk. Lactose enhances calcium and iron absorption and promotes the growth of lactobacilli, which in turn helps prevent the growth of pathogenic flora in the gut. Lactose metabolizes readily to glucose and galactose, important sources of energy for the growing infant. Glucose is an essential fuel for the brain. Human milk ensures a supply of galactocere-brosides, which are essential to brain development. buy zocor

Triglycerides, the main constituent of milk fats, are readily broken down into free fatty acids and glycerol by lipase. Human milk provides generous amounts of essential fatty acids (linoleic acid and linolenic acid), long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid) and cholesterol.
Human milk also contains nucleotides, which are necessary for energy metabolism, growth and maturation of the gastrointestinal tract, enzymatic reactions and enhanced immune function.

Although human milk has only a small amount of iron (0.3 mg/L to 1 mg/L), iron in human milk is highly bioavailable, possibly because of the lower calcium and phosphorous content and the presence of lactoferrin. Approximately 50% of the iron in the human milk is absorbed, compared to about 10% of that in whole cow’s milk.

Milk from mothers of preterm infants contains higher concentrations of fat, protein and sodium but slightly lower concentrations of lactose, calcium and phosphorous, compared to milk form mothers of term infants. For the very premature infants, human milk alone does not meet the high demands of growth. To correct the nutritional inadequacies in the very premature infants, fortification of human milk may be required. Commercial human milk fortifiers are available in powdered or liquid form. When you need your medication buy plavix

Immunological and Anti-Infective Advantages
The protective properties of human milk can be divided into cellular or humoral factors. Cellular components, including T and B-lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils, are at especially high levels in colostrum, and they persist in milk in lower concentrations but in activated forms for as long as breast milk is produced. Humoral factors include immungolobulins, lysozyme, nucleotides, lactoferrin, complements, bifidus factor, interferon, lactoperoxi-dase, oligosaccharides, vitamin Bi2 binding protein and epidermal growth factor. Secretory IgA predominates in human milk and plays a vital role in the provision of local protection to the mucosal membrane. Human milk contains glucosamines, which promote the growth of lactobacillus bifidus, which helps to prevent the growth of pathogenic flora in the gut. Breastfeeding decreases the incidence and/or severity of gastrointestinal tract infection, lower respiratory tract infection, otitis media, urinary tract infection, meningitis, septicemia and necrotizing enter

Table 1. Drugs Usually Contraindicated during Breastfeeding

1. Cytotoxic
2. Radioactive agents
3. Illegal drugs of abuse
4. Phenindione
5. Tetracycline

Table 2. Signs of Successful Breastfeeding in the Early Weeks
1. Satisfactory weight gain
2. Audible swallowing
3. At least eight feedings per day
4. At least two bowel movements per day
5. At least six wet diapers per day
6. Urine pale and odorless
7. Infant alert and active
There is also evidence that breastfeeding actively stimulates the immune system of the infant.

Prevention of Allergies
Breastfeeding does have a protective effect on the incidence of atopy in infants with a genetic predisposition to atopy. A meta-analysis of 12 prospective studies (n=8,l83) suggests that exclusive breastfeeding during the first months of life is associated with lower asthma rates during childhood. In high-risk infants, exclusive breastfeeding with delayed introduction of solid foods (until six months of age) may delay, or possibly prevent, the onset of food allergy in some children. Because small amounts of food antigens ingested by the mother are excreted in breast milk, avoidance of allergenic foods by lactating mothers is often recommended. Infants with elevated cord serum IgE and a positive family history of atopy are at risk for the development of atopic disease. Breastfeeding protects against the development of allergy by several mechanisms. Colostrum is responsible for sealing the gut, thereby preventing the entrance of large foreign proteins and thus preventing an allergic response. Colostrum also prevents the adherence of pathogens. Breastfeeding reduces the amount of foreign protein in an infant’s gastrointestinal tract and passively transfers maternal IgA to the infant, thereby protecting the infant’s gastrointestinal tract from absorbing antigens. Transfer of cell-mediated immunity from mother to infant stimulates IgA synthesis in the infant. In addition, epidermal growth factor present in human milk hastens maturation of intestinal mucosa and epithelium, thereby strengthening the mucosal barrier to antigen. Finally, several studies have shown that respiratory and gastrointestinal infections may lead to the development of allergic diseases. Thus, an allergy-preventive effect of breastfeeding may be secondary to a reduction in the number of infections in the infant. Viagra Super Active

Enhanced Cognitive Development
Children who are breastfed have higher cognitive function than children who are formula-fed. Anderson et al. performed a meta-analysis on 11 studies that reported unadjusted and covariate-adjusted findings comparing cognitive development of breastfed and formula-fed infants. After adjusting for possible confounding variables, such as socioeconomic status and maternal education, the “cognitive development score” was 3.16 points higher in breastfed infants (n=7,081) compared with formula-fed infants. The meta-analysis also found that the duration of breastfeeding correlated with development and cognitive outcome. A recent study suggests that the effect may last well into adulthood.

Prevention of Obesity
Breastfeeding reduces the risk of childhood obesity to a moderate extent. Of 11 studies that examined prevalence of obesity in children >3 years of age that had a sample size of > 100 per feeding group, eight showed a lower risk in children who had been breastfed after controlling for potential con-founders. The three “negative” studies lacked information on the exclusivity of breastfeeding. Childhood obesity may persist into adult obesity with associated morbidity, such as type-2 mellitus, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.

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