7 protective elements in breast milk
Breast milk has many advantages to the infant , as nutritional and immunologic benefits which makes the mother's milk the first choice especially in the first 6 months of the baby's life . In this topic we will concentrate on the protective ( immunologic ) advantages of the breast milk:
1- Bifidus factor :
This factor is oligosaccharide in nature present in the colostrum ( milk in the first 2-3 days from the mother's breast ) and mature milk ( milk from the mother's breast after the first 2-3 weeks of lactation ) , this factor favors the growth of bacteria known as lactobacillus bifidus (intestinal flora responsible for acid production in the gut of the baby) , this acidic medium prevents the growth of bacteria so breast fed infants are less liable to diarrhea .
2- Intestinal growth factor :
The factor stimulate the repair of the damaged intestinal cell , which occurs in diarrhea , so in breast fed infants healing of the intestine is much more better .
3- Lysosymes :
Enzyme that attach the cell wall of the bacteria , as in the first 2 years babies are more liable to bacterial infections .
4- Lymphocytes , macrophages and polymorphs :
These cells have role in phagocytosis of the infectious agents .
5- Lactoferrin :
Iron binding protein increase the absorption and transport of iron to various body systems , and decrease its destruction by bacteria .
6- Immunoglobulins :
Immunoglobulins in general have protective role from any infection , the mother's milk contain a type ( secretory Ig A ) which protect the baby from respiratory tract infections .
7- Decrease allergy :
Breast milk decrease the risk of allergic disorders like type 1 diabetes , inflammatory bowel disease , hypertension and obesity .
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