Human milk: a source of more life than we imagine

Abstract

The presence of bacteria in human milk has been acknowledged since the seventies. For a long time, microbiological analysis of human milk was only performed in case of infections and therefore the presence of non-pathogenic bacteria was yet unknown. During the last decades, the use of more sophisticated culture-dependent and -independent techniques, and the steady development of the -omic approaches are opening up the new concept of the 'milk microbiome', a complex ecosystem with a greater diversity than previously anticipated. In this review, possible mechanisms by which bacteria can reach the mammary gland (contamination versus active migration) are discussed. In addition, the potential roles of human milk for both infant and maternal health are summarised. A better understanding of the link between the milk microbiome and health benefit, the potential factors influencing this relationship and whether or not it can be influenced by nutrition is required to open new avenues in the field of pregnancy and lactation.

Gut microbiota: a source of novel tools to reduce the risk of human disease?

“…Milk microbiota has also been described in rhesus monkey (26) and in other mammals such as the dairy cow (27) as well as in human breast milk samples (28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34). Our recent work using pyrosequencing demonstrated a large microbial biodiversity present in colostrum samples, with clear but mild temporal variations during the first 6 mo of breastfeeding (28).…”

Breast milk, microbiota, and intestinal immune homeostasis

“…Over the last few years with the introduction of molecular analysis of the microbiome in breast milk, microbiota from mother's intestine are also shown in breast milk (79). Human and animal studies suggest that microorganisms from the maternal gut can be taken up by an increasingly permeable intestine due to hormonal effects on enterocyte tight junctions in the later stages of pregnancy and into early lactation.…”

Mastitis in women: a new look at the old problem

“…В отличие от других бактерий штаммы грудного молока человека уни-кальным образом приспосабливаются к выживанию в пищеварительном тракте человека и взаимодействию в симбиозе с организмом с момента рождения [23].…”