Document Detail


Advances in our understanding of the biology of human milk and its effects on the offspring.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17237337     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
There is an intense interest in the effects of breast-feeding on the offspring and in understanding the mechanisms behind these effects. More than 50 papers are published monthly on topics such as the influence of breast-feeding on aspects of growth, immune-related effects, mental development, and noncommunicable diseases. Most breast-feeding data are observational; confounding can be difficult to rule out because some maternal factors are associated with both breast-feeding and infant outcomes (e.g., obesity and mental development). The most important short-term immunological benefit of breast-feeding is the protection against infectious diseases. There is also some evidence of lower prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases, childhood cancers, and type I diabetes in breast-fed infants, suggesting that breast-feeding influences the development of the infant's own immune system. One of the most consistent findings of breast-feeding is a positive effect on later intelligence tests with a few test points advantage for breast-fed infants. In the last few years, several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have examined the effect of breast-feeding on noncommunicable diseases. There seems to be a small protective effect against later overweight and obesity. Blood pressure and blood cholesterol seem to be slightly lower in breast-fed infants; however, the few studies examining breast-feeding and the risk of coronary heart disease in later life did not find an association. Recent data have suggested that breast-feeding can program the insulin-like growth factor-I axis, as 3 studies found that breast-fed infants are taller as adults.
Authors:
Lene Schack-Nielsen; Kim F Michaelsen
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of nutrition     Volume:  137     ISSN:  0022-3166     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Nutr.     Publication Date:  2007 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-01-22     Completed Date:  2007-03-15     Revised Date:  2008-11-21    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0404243     Medline TA:  J Nutr     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  503S-510S     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Life Science, University of Copenhagen, DK-1958, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Breast Feeding*
Chronic Disease / prevention & control
Cognition
Humans
Infant
Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
Infant, Newborn
Milk, Human / physiology*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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