Breast-Milk Characteristics Protecting Against Allergy

Abstract

Breast milk and colostrum are the first feeding sources for a child, providing nutrients, growth factors and immunological components, which are crucial for the newborn's correct development and health. Length of exclusive breastfeeding and time of solid foods introduction is a key factor that may influence allergy development. There is an emerging evidence of a relationship between breastfeeding, milk composition and lower risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension and allergies. This review examines current evidence regarding humoral and cellular characteristics of breast-milk, and potential role of environment, maternal diet and breastfeeding on the allergy development in children.

Immune components of early breastmilk: Association with maternal factors and with reported food allergy in childhood

“…Although our first analysis showed a positive association of maternal atopy with IL‐4 and EGF concentrations, these associations were no longer significant after FDR correction, thus confirming results obtained for IL‐4 in other studies . We also confirmed the absence of an association between maternal atopy and IgA or TGFβ concentrations. As observed when comparing colostrum from France, Brazil, and Australia, but in contrast to the data obtained on colostrum from UK, Russia, and Italy or from farm vs non‐farm mothers, we did not find any association between TGFβconcentrations and place of residence (Poitiers being considered more rural than Nancy).…”

“…In this context, BM content in immunomodulatory components may be critical, notably during the neonatal period. Early BM allows the transfer of immunomodulatory nutrients, various growth and angiogenic factors, and immune factors such as immune cells, antibodies, and cytokines . All these components will modulate the growth, differentiation, maturation, function, and angiogenesis of the neonate organs, notably of the gastrointestinal tract and associated immune system.…”

“…Early BM allows the transfer of immunomodulatory nutrients, various growth and angiogenic factors, and immune factors such as immune cells, antibodies, and cytokines. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] All these components will modulate the growth, differentiation, maturation, function, and angiogenesis of the neonate organs, notably of the gastrointestinal tract and associated immune system. Immaturity of the neonatal digestive tract and the presence of antiproteases in BM may reduce the degradation of all these factors and allow their absorption by the neonate in an active form, notably in the first days of life when permeability is increased.…”

An endogenous nanomineral chaperones luminal antigen and peptidoglycan to intestinal immune cells

“…Finally, Peyer’s patches are present at birth 6 and mineralised calcium nano-structures probably exist in breast milk 38-40 . We speculate from the findings presented here that the nanomineral in breast milk may be more than an easily-absorbed form of calcium and facilitate early gut immuno-surveillance of maternal milk-borne antigens 41 .…”

Breastfeeding and Risk of Kawasaki Disease: A Nationwide Longitudinal Survey in Japan

“…First, the mother may provide her own immunologic memory (ie, antimicrobial factors such as secretory immunoglobulin A, oligosaccharides, lactoferrin, nucleotides) to her infant via breast milk, 19,20 which may prevent the infant from contracting infections that trigger abnormal immune responses. Second, breastfeeding may support the maturation of immune system (ie, programming of the system), 17 which may limit potential damage from an uncontrolled inflammatory response.…”