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In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7), we're thrilled to share our latest research that's revolutionising our understanding of breast milk and supporting breastfeeding mothers.
In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week (1 – 7 August), we sat down with Professor Valerie Verhasselt to ask her some of the top questions about breastfeeding and immunology.
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between duration of breastfeeding and educational outcomes.
Breast- & bottle-feeding patterns & the introduction of solid feeds & sugar containing drinks to the dietary intake of a cohort of urban Aboriginal infants
This study examined the influence of type and duration of infant feeding on adiposity rebound and the tracking of body mass index (BMI) from birth to 14 years
Human milk is characterised by its complex composition, consisting of nutrient and bioactive components that play a crucial role in infant health. Although the infant oral cavity is directly exposed to these components during breastfeeding, their effects on the developing oral microbiome remains underexplored.
This study highlights the importance of human milk in providing anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 immunity to newborns. The highest protective activity of human milk against COVID-19 was found in colostrum from infected mothers.
This manuscript sheds light on the impact of maternal breast milk antibodies on infant health. Milk antibodies prepare and protect the newborn against environmental exposure, guide and regulate the offspring's immune system, and promote transgenerational adaptation of the immune system to its environment.
The predisposition to food allergy development and the induction of allergen-specific immune responses appears to be initiated early in infancy. Early exposure to food allergens, such as peanut and cashew nut, via human milk is likely important in initiating oral tolerance and reducing risk of food allergy development. This trial aims to determine if the risk of developing peanut and cashew nut allergy during infancy can be reduced by a high peanut and cashew nut maternal diet during lactation.
Infant growth trajectory may influence later-life obesity. Human milk provides a wide range of nutritional and bioactive components that are vital for infant growth. Compared to formula-fed infants, breastfed infants are less likely to develop later-onset obesity, highlighting the potential role of bioactive components present in human milk.