Human milk enhances antioxidant defenses against hydroxyl radical aggression in preterm infants

Abstract

Prematurity is associated with protracted oxidative stress, and human milk is partially protective.

Oxidative stress and total antioxidant status in term newborns and their mothers

“…Higher elimination of oxidative stress markers (8-oxodG and o-tyrosine) is observed also in formula-fed children when compared to breastfed infants, proving that preterm babies are exposed to higher oxidative stress than term neonates, and that breastfeeding reduces that stress more than formula feeding [17].…”

“…Ledo et al demonstrated that preterm newborns eliminate a greater amount of oxidative stress metabolites in urine than term infants [17]. The extent of the elimination correlates with gestational age and weight.…”

Factors influencing gastrointestinal tract and microbiota immune interaction in preterm infants

“…Interestingly, it has been shown that feeding with preterm human milk is protective against hydroxyl radical aggression as compared to formula feeding. Hence, preterm babies fed own mother's milk eliminated significantly less biomarkers of oxidative damage to proteins and DNA in the urine as compared to paired formula fed preterm infants (58).…”

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection: Mechanisms of Redox Control and Novel Therapeutic Opportunities

“…Although the complete list of antioxidants present in human milk is not known, it is has been shown to contain a number of AOEs such as those that were found to be affected by RSV infection (including SOD and catalase) (88). Overall, human milk demonstrates an increased total antioxidant capacity compared to formula, and even preterm infants, which are at a higher risk for severe RSV infections, show evidence of lower oxidative damage when fed exclusively mother's milk compared with formulafed infants (148).…”