The bioactive nature of human breastmilk.

ABSTRACT

Human breastmilk is widely accepted to be the optimal source for nutrition for the newborn infant, containing all the proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, micronutrients and trace elements required for growth, development and immune protection. In addition human breastmilk plays a significant role in the prevention of medical conditions such as childhood cancers, obesity and gastrointestinal diseases. The importance of breastmilk and its superiority as a source of infant nutrition is highlighted in the recent overhaul of teh World Health Organization growth charts that are now based on exclusively breastfed infants. Human breastmilk also contains a population of cells, the importance of which is often not considered when the bioactivity of breastmilk is discussed.