breast milk Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Digital Baby Formula Campaigns Undermine Breastfeeding & Put Child Health at Risk

The AHA! Team — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 05:21:37 +0000

SciDev.Net via News-Medical – Breastfeeding saves lives. It is one of the most powerful, proven investments in child survival, development and health. A global resolution on digital marketing of breast milk substitutes must be rigorously enforced, writes Afshan Khan, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement. Breastfeeding saves lives. It is one of the most powerful, proven investments in child survival, development and health. And yet its practice is being undermined — not by science, but by sophisticated and often misleading digital marketing. More than half of new parents are exposed to online promotions for formula milk, often disguised as medical advice or peer support. In some countries, that figure rises to over 90 per cent. What these aggressive campaigns for breast milk substitutes (BMS) do not tell parents is that breast milk is essential for building a child’s immune system — something formula simply cannot do. They also ignore a critical risk: formula must be mixed with water, and in communities without safe water access, this often leads to illness and infection in young children. Digital marketing campaigns are targeting parents at their most vulnerable — when they are seeking guidance, not manipulation. These tactics distort choice by drowning out trusted, evidence-based information with biased, misleading promotion. This not only undermines public health principles and a decade of progress in breastfeeding promotion, it also puts the health and future of entire generations at risk. These digital marketing tactics contravene a longstanding global framework. The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1981, was designed to protect families from precisely this kind of exploitation. Yet, as a 2022 WHO and UNICEF report revealed, formula companies now spend up to 70 per cent of their marketing budgets on digital tools — from apps and virtual baby clubs to paid influencers and online forums — harvesting personal data and pushing targeted promotions in breach of the Code. In response, WHO member states adopted a landmark resolution at the World Health Assembly in Geneva this week (26 May) to curb digital marketing of breast milk substitutes and protect parents’ right to accurate, transparent information. Led by Mexico and Brazil and supported by nine country members of the UN-hosted Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, this resolution is a critical step forward. The science on breast milk is long proven. By providing essential nutrition, strengthening immunity, and supporting cognitive development, breastfeeding can radically change the health and economic outcomes of mother and child. Scaling up breastfeeding globally could prevent 823,000 unnecessary child deaths and 20,000 deaths from breast cancer every year. It has been linked to a 20 per cent reduction in the risk of physical and cognitive stunting. These recognised advantages of breast milk had begun to take hold. Since 2012, rates of exclusive breastfeeding have risen from 37 per cent to nearly 48 per cent in 2021. Three quarters of these children live in low- and lower-middle-income countries, which represents important, tangible progress. But digital platforms spreading misleading formula marketing are cutting into this progress, with inadequate breastfeeding responsible for 16 per cent of child deaths each year. The new resolution gives countries a new framework to take action. Translating this into results will, however, require further coordinated efforts across sectors. First, stronger enforcement is essential. Countries need robust monitoring and accountability systems to track violations and respond effectively. Vietnam offers a promising model: with support from the SUN Civil Society Alliance, it has launched the AI-powered Virtual Violations Detector, which identifies breaches of the Code in real time and alerts regulators, enabling swift action and targeted advocacy. Another step will be to align fragmented policies across civil society and health systems. Harmful breast milk substitute marketing flourishes in disconnected systems, such as when health workers lack guidance, civil society is under-resourced, or tech platforms are unregulated. To close these gaps, governments must adopt an approach that brings all actors to the table. Finally, it is equally important to support positive campaigns that champion breastfeeding. It is not enough to restrict harmful marketing — parents need support and encouragement to make informed decisions. El Salvador has shown through its “Nacer con Cariño” (Born with Love) national policy how the promotion of breastfeeding can be integrated into prenatal and delivery care. Since its implementation in 2021, 69,000 babies have been born under this respectful care model and, thanks to the training of more than 1,000 breastfeeding counsellors supported by the SUN Movement, the country has far surpassed the global exclusive breastfeeding targets of 50 per cent for 2025, reaching a rate of more than 65 per cent. Informed parents make empowered choices, and empowered choices give every child the best possible start in life. Together with the resolution on the extension of the World Health Assembly nutrition targets, and the commitments made by countries at the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris earlier this year, we have a renewed mandate to act. Let’s make sure we use it and ensure this resolution moves from Geneva into meaningful action and change online and on the ground. Afshan Khan is Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement. Source: SciDev.Net To read the original article click here.

The post Digital Baby Formula Campaigns Undermine Breastfeeding & Put Child Health at Risk appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Breast Milk Antibodies Linked to Protection Against Rotavirus in Infants

The AHA! Team — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 06:40:26 +0000

University of Rochester Medical Center via News-Medical – Babies whose mothers had high levels of specific antibodies in their breast milk were able to fend off the infection for a longer period than infants whose mothers had lower levels. A study led by researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that breast milk provides protection against rotavirus, a common gastrointestinal disease that causes diarrhea, vomiting and fever in infants. Babies whose mothers had high levels of specific antibodies in their breast milk were able to fend off the infection for a longer period than infants whose mothers had lower levels. The findings are expected to drive future research to improve infant health through optimized breastfeeding practices. Published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the study also found significant differences in antibody profiles in breast milk between mothers in high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Researchers analyzed human milk samples from 695 women in Finland, the U.S., Pakistan, Peru, and Bangladesh, and measured specific IgA and IgG antibodies, which are common antibodies produced in breast milk, against 1,607 proteins from 30 pathogens. Researchers analyzed human milk samples from 695 women in Finland, the U.S., Pakistan, Peru, and Bangladesh The research, led by Dr. Kirsi Jarvinen-Seppo, MD, PhD, professor in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at UR Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital (GCH), tracked antibody levels and kinetics over time to analyze antibody responses to a wide range of respiratory, diarrheal and sepsis pathogens in human milk. The study’s primary aim was to understand the protective properties of these antibodies and how they vary across different geographic and economic regions. “We would expect to find differences in antibody levels in different countries, due to different diseases circulating among areas of the world, but this is one of the first times that there’s been a head-to-head comparison for dozens of pathogens across several continents. It was encouraging to see such a clear link between higher antibody levels and a delay to rotavirus infection, and this was consistently observed among an independent validation cohort.” Dr. Kirsi Jarvinen-Seppo, MD, PhD, Professor in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at UR Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital (GCH) Other notable findings from the study: Milk from women in LMICs had higher levels of IgA and IgG antibodies against various intestinal and respiratory pathogens compared to milk from HICs. This difference was particularly notable for pathogens such as Shigella and pneumococcus, which are major contributors to morbidity and mortality in young children. Higher body mass index (BMI) was associated with lower antibody levels, which went against expectations. “The variation in antibody profiles between regions highlights the impact of economic and environmental factors on maternal immunity,” said Jarvinen-Seppo. In addition to Rotavirus findings, the discovery that a higher BMI was associated with lower antibody counts in breast milk was also unexpected. “We had anticipated that underweight mothers might have lower antibody levels due to poorer nutritional status,” said Jarvinen-Seppo. “Due to rising obesity rates worldwide, this could be a significant finding, but this is preliminary and additional research is needed since this is the first time this has been measured.” “While the data on rotavirus protection is compelling, the geographical and BMI-related variations highlight areas where further research is essential. The study sets the stage for additional investigations that could lead to better understanding and interventions for improving infant health globally,” said Jarvinen-Seppo. Source: University of Rochester Medical Center Journal reference: Campo, J. J., et al. (2024). Human milk antibodies to global pathogens reveal geographic and interindividual variations in IgA and IgG. Journal of Clinical Investigation. doi.org/10.1172/jci168789. To read the original article click here.

The post Breast Milk Antibodies Linked to Protection Against Rotavirus in Infants appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Newly Identified Lipid in Breast Milk Might Reduce Cerebral Palsy in Infants

The AHA! Team — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 08:15:57 +0000

Duke Health – In animal studies, the fat molecule encourages stem cells to generate new cells that produce the brain’s white matter About 60,000 babies are born before 32 weeks’ gestation in the United States every year, and 10% of them will develop cerebral palsy resulting from infections that damage nerve fibers deep in the brain called white matter. 60,000 babies are born before 32 weeks’ gestation in the United States every year While it’s known that the white matter loss will lead to neurological deficits, there is currently no treatment to help these infants avoid the outcome. In experiments using neonatal mice, researchers at Duke Health have identified a fatty molecule in breast milk that triggers a process in which stem cells in the brain produce cells that create new white matter, reversing the injury. The study appears Aug. 3 in the journal Cell Stem Cell. Eric Benner, M.D., Ph.D., is the study’s corresponding author and is a distinguished assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Duke University School of Medicine. Benner said further study in a clinical trial is needed, but the finding is promising. “Developing therapies for children — especially such medically fragile children — is very difficult to do because there are justifiably strict safety concerns,” Benner said. “The fact that this molecule is already found in something that is safe for premature babies – breast milk – is extremely encouraging. There are many types of fats in breast milk “It’s been known that fats in breast milk benefit a child’s brain development, but there are many types of fats in breast milk,” Benner said. “This work has identified a lipid molecule in breast milk that promotes white matter development. Now, we can begin to develop a therapy that isolates and delivers this lipid in a way that is safe for the unique challenges of these infants.” Benner is a neonatologist at Duke University and one of the co-founders of Tellus Therapeutics, a Duke spinout company developed with the help of the Duke University Office for Translation & Commercialization to bring this therapy from the bench into the neonatal intensive care unit. The fatty molecule identified in the study will be administered intravenously to patients in an upcoming clinical trial. This is significant because many of the infants who are part of this vulnerable population also have gastrointestinal issues and cannot safely be given milk or medication by mouth. The lipid molecule enters the brain and binds with stem cells there, encouraging the stem cells to become or produce a type of cell called oligodendrocytes. The oligodendrocytes are like a hub that allow for the production of white matter in the central nervous system. This newly produced white matter in pre-term infants prevents the neurological damage that would otherwise impact the child’s ability to move – the hallmarks of cerebral palsy. “The timing of brain injury is extremely difficult to predict, thus a treatment that could be safely given to all preterm babies at risk would be revolutionary,” said Agnes Chao, M.D., a former fellow in the Division of Neonatology and first author of the paper. The timing of brain injury is extremely difficult to predict “As a neonatologist, I’m so excited that I may be able to offer a treatment to families with babies that are affected by preterm brain injury who would otherwise have no other options,” Chao said. In addition to Benner and Chao, study authors include Pavle Matak, Kelly Pegram, James Powers, Collin Hutson, Rebecca Jo, Laura Dubois, J. Will Thompson, P. Brian Smith, Jason R. Gibson, Noelle E. Younge, Blaire Rikard, Simon G. Gregory, Ronald N. Goldberg, Mari L Shinohara, Estefany Y. Reyes, Chunlei Liu. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (1R01NS114578, T32HD094671, K12HD043494, T32HD043728, R01AG070826, R01MH127104, P41EB015897, 1UL1-TR002553), Jean and George Brumley Jr. Neonatal Perinatal Research Institute, with additional support from the Duke Scholars Award from the School of Medicine, Duke University Center for In Vivo Microscopy, and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. To read the original article click here.

The post Newly Identified Lipid in Breast Milk Might Reduce Cerebral Palsy in Infants appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Sugars from Human Milk Could Help Treat, Prevent Infections in Newborns

AHA Publisher — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 07:00:48 +0000

American Chemical Society (ACS) via Newswise – Bacteria known as group B Streptococcus (GBS) are a common cause of blood infections, meningitis and stillbirth in newborns. Although GBS infections can often be treated or prevented with antibiotics, the bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant. Now, researchers have discovered that human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) –– short strings of sugar molecules abundant in breast milk –– can help prevent GBS infections in human cells and tissues and in mice. Someday, HMOs might be able to replace antibiotics for treating infections in infants and adults, they say. The researchers will present their results today at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS Fall 2021 is a hybrid meeting being held virtually and in-person Aug. 22-26, and on-demand content will be available Aug. 30-Sept. 30. The meeting features more than 7,000 presentations on a wide range of science topics. “Our lab has previously shown that mixtures of HMOs isolated from the milk of several different donor mothers have antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against GBS,” says Rebecca Moore, who is presenting the work at the meeting. “We wanted to jump from these in vitro studies to see whether HMOs could prevent infections in cells and tissues from a pregnant woman, and in pregnant mice.” Moore is a graduate student in the labs of Steven Townsend, Ph.D., at Vanderbilt University and Jennifer Gaddy, Ph.D., at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 2,000 babies in the U.S. get GBS each year, and 4-6% of them die from it. The bacteria are often transferred from mother to baby during labor and delivery. An expectant mother who tests positive for GBS is usually given intravenous antibiotics during labor to help prevent early-onset infections, which occur during the first week of life. Interestingly, the incidence of late-onset infections (which happen from one week to three months after birth) is higher in formula-fed than breastfed infants, which suggests that factors in breast milk could help protect against GBS. If so, the sugars could perhaps replace antibiotics, which, in addition to killing beneficial bacteria, are becoming less effective because of the rise in antibiotic resistance. The researchers studied the effects of combined HMOs from several mothers on GBS infection of placental immune cells (called macrophages) and of the gestational membrane (the sac surrounding the fetus). “We found that HMOs were able to completely inhibit bacterial growth in both the macrophages and the membranes, so we very quickly turned to looking at a mouse model,” Moore says. They examined whether HMOs could prevent a GBS infection from spreading through the reproductive tract of pregnant mice. “In five different parts of the reproductive tract, we saw significantly decreased GBS infection with HMO treatment,” Moore notes. To figure out which HMOs and other oligosaccharides have these antimicrobial effects and why, the researchers set up an artificial two-species microbiome with GBS and the beneficial Streptococcus salivariusspecies growing in a tissue culture plate, separated by a semi-permeable membrane. Then, the researchers added oligosaccharides that are commonly added to infant formula, called galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), which are derived from plants. In the absence of the sugar, GBS suppressed the growth of the “good” bacteria, but GOS helped this beneficial species grow. “We concluded that GBS is producing lactic acid that inhibits growth, and then when we add the oligosaccharide, the beneficial species can use it as a food source to overcome this suppression,” Moore explains. Somewhat surprisingly, the first HMOs they’ve tested in the system did not have this effect, but Townsend says it’s likely that one or more of the over 200 unique sugars in human milk will show activity in the artificial microbiome assay. The team plans to find out. The reason HMOs can treat and prevent GBS infection is likely two-fold, the researchers say: They act as an anti-adhesive by preventing pathogens from sticking to tissue surfaces and forming a biofilm, and they could act as a prebiotic by supporting the growth of good bacteria. “HMOs have been around as long as humans have, and bacteria have not figured them out. Presumably, that’s because there are so many in milk, and they’re constantly changing during a baby’s development,” Townsend says. “But if we could learn more about how they work, it’s possible that we could treat different types of infections with mixtures of HMOs, and maybe one day this could be a substitute for antibiotics in adults, as well as babies.” To read the original article click here.

The post Sugars from Human Milk Could Help Treat, Prevent Infections in Newborns appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Study Suggests SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Breast Milk Are Robust, Neutralizing and Durable

AHA Publisher — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 07:00:42 +0000

Dr. Liji Thomas, MD via News-Medical – The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused over 123.7 million cases and has claimed more than 2.7 million lives worldwide. However, the infection, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), affects children and adolescents with strikingly less severity than adults. Infants are also included in this low-risk group. However, a new preprint on the bioRxiv* server addresses the issue of passive immunity for newborns via breast milk. Importance of the Study Among infants with COVID-19, one in ten require intensive care for severe illness. A significant minority also shows signs of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children(MIS-C) associated with COVID-19, setting in after weeks or months. The possibility of transmitting infection also exists with infants, adding reason to protect this group against infection. Breast Milk Antibodies Breast milk contains about 0.6 mg/mL of antibodies in the form of immunoglobulin (IG). About 90% of this is IgA, mostly secretory (sIgA). This comprises a complex of IgA antibodies, the J-chain and secretory component (SC) proteins, forming antibody polymers. The entero-mammary link is in action to produce sIgA from the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) and from B cells recruited from other mucosal surfaces, as well as from the draining lymphatics of the breast tissue. This form of IgA is very stable and does not easily break down under enzymatic action, whether in the milk or the infant’s gut or in the mucosae of the gut, the upper airway and the lungs. The concentration of IgA in the infant’s stomach drops by half within two hours, while that of IgG drops by three-quarters. Preterm infants fail to show a decrease in IgA concentration within the first three months after birth, which is important given their increased susceptibility to infection. Earlier Research An earlier study by the same authors showed that all milk samples from 15 recently recovered COVID-19 mothers contained significant IgA binding activity against the viral spike protein. About 80% of samples were also observed to contain antibodies specific to the receptor-binding domain (RBD), including secretory antibodies. Only a few showed anti-RBD IgG or IgM activity, indicating that the anti-RBD IgA was secretory in nature. What Were the Results? The current study showed the types of anti-spike antibodies in breast milk from a larger group of donors, collected at 4-6 weeks after infection. The antibody profile in milk was studied using IgA ELISA against the recombinant trimeric spike protein of the virus. The researchers found that 88% of samples were positive for anti-spike IgA and that binding was higher for spike-specific binding compared to controls. Titration of 40 positive samples showed positive IgA endpoint titers in 95% of them (indicating the highest dilution at which the reaction is positive). Of these, half showed a titer five-fold or more the endpoint titer of the positive cutoff value, entitling them to be called high-titer samples. Again, 19 of 20 samples that were assayed for spike-specific sIgA and IgG were positive for spike-targeting secretory antibodies. One lacked specific IgA but showed specific secretory antibodies, with another showing the opposite profile. Of these samples positive for spike-specific secretory antibodies, 18 had positive endpoint titers. Meanwhile, among the high-titer spike-specific IgA-containing samples, seven contained high titers of specific secretory antibodies. The levels of IgA and secretory antibodies were positively correlated. Again, 15/20 samples contained spike-directed IgG, and 13 had positive endpoint titers. Only two were high-titer samples. IgA and IgG titers were not correlated, neither were IgG and SC titers. Persistent IgA Response The researchers also observed persistently high spike-targeting IgA titers in 28 paired convalescent samples collected at 4-6 weeks and 4-10 months after infection. The average endpoint titers showed no significant change over this period In half of the samples, the IgA titer was reduced by more than a tenth, of which only two showed over 50% reduction. In 43% it went up by more than a tenth. The longest follow-up was up to 10 months after infection in 14 patients. Here too, the titers were unchanged on the whole, with five donors showing more than 10% drop, eight more than 10% increase, and one with no change. One showed more than a 50% reduction in titer. Neutralizing Activity Neutralizing activity was demonstrated by 75% of samples at the highest concentration, vs. only 13% of controls. The mean percent neutralization values at 50ug/ml were much higher for the convalescent samples relative to the controls. Convalescent samples achieved effective inhibition of 50% of viral particles (50% inhibitory concentration, IC50) in 6/8 samples, but only 1/8 pre-pandemic controls. The mean IC50 among the six convalescent specimens was 33.6ug/mL of total IgA. The neutralizing capacity was correlated significantly with the IgA binding. The two samples that failed to show neutralizing activity also had the lowest IgA endpoint titers. What Are the Implications? The lack of evidence that SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted via human milk has led to recommendations to continue breastfeeding if desired following the delivery of a COIVD-19 positive mother, along with the use of masks, hand and breast hygiene. The current study confirms that breast milk is not just harmless but positively efficacious in providing passive immunity to the infant of a convalescent mother. Not only is the presence of sIgA in milk very common after infection, but is dominant relative to IgG. Moreover, the correlation between anti-spike IgA and secretory antibodies is strong, which shows that the greatest part of breast milk spike-targeting IgA is sIgA, thus effectively protecting the infant. Secretory antibodies are capable of withstanding harsh biological environments such as the gut and the mouth of infants. Extracted milk IgA is also a potential therapeutic avenue for COVID-19, since it will probably survive administration to the airways and will be highly effective at lower doses than those required with the current convalescent plasma or plasma Ig protocols that are administered systemically. While all high-titer IgA-positive samples showed neutralizing activity against the spike, two out of three positive but not high-titer samples failed to do so. These were all from 4-6 week samples, and neutralizing activity may have been detectable as the immune response matured. The durability of the response points towards protection of the infant while on breast milk, and also a potential donor pool to generate extracted milk IgA for therapeutic use. The fact that 8/14 samples at 7-10 months showed a rise rather than a fall in specific IgA titers indicates the possibility of long-lived plasma cells in the GALT and breast tissue. These may be restimulated by other coronaviruses or the same virus on repeated exposure. *Important Notice medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. To read the original article click here.

The post Study Suggests SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Breast Milk Are Robust, Neutralizing and Durable appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.