Components of Breast Milk & Benefits

of Breastfeeding
Breast milk excels as a source of nutrients for infants. Its unique nutrient composition and protective factors
promote optimal infant health and development throughout the first year of life. Experts add that
iron-fortified formula (imitates breast milks nutrient composition) is an acceptable alternative.
Breast milk is more easily and completely digested than formula. Thus, breastfed infants usually need
to eat more frequently than formula-fed infants do.
Even though infant obtains about half the milk from the breast during first two or three minutes of sucking,
breastfeeding is encouraged for about 10 to 15 minutes on each breast.

Nutrients
The carbohydrate in breast milk is disaccharide lactose. It is easily
digested and enhances calcium absorption. The main carbohydrate is the
special milk sugar lactose, a disaccharide. Breast milk contains about 7
g lactose per 100 ml, which is more than in most other milks, and is
another important source of energy. Another kind of carbohydrate
present in breast milk is oligosaccharides, or sugar chains, which
provide important protection against infection.
Breast milk protein differs in both quantity and quality from animal
milks, and it contains a balance of amino acids which makes it much
more suitable for a baby. The concentration of protein in breast milk (0.9
g per 100 ml) is lower than in animal milks. The much higher protein in
animal milks can overload the infants immature kidneys with waste
nitrogen products. Breast milk contains less of the protein casein, and
this casein in breast milk has a different molecular structure. It forms
much softer, more easily- digested curds than that in other milks. Among
the whey, or soluble proteins, human milk contains more alphaBreast milk contains about 3.5 g of fat per 100 ml of milk, which provides about one half of the energy
content of the milk. The fat is secreted in small droplets, and the amount increases as the feed progresses.
Breast milk contains a generous proportion of the essential fatty acids (linoleic acid and linolenic acid), as
well as arachidonic acid and DHA.
Vitamins in breast milk are able to support infant growth, except the vitamin D is low. Vitamin D deficiency
is most likely in infants who are not exposed to sunlight daily, have darkly pigmented skin, and receive
breast milk without supplementation. The calcium content of breast milk is ideal for bone growth, it is also
well absorbed. Breast milk contains small amount of iron (high bioavailability), zinc (high bioavailability),
sodium which is beneficial to immature kidney, fluoride which promotes strong teeth.

Immunological Problems
Breast milk is sterile and actively fights disease and protects infants from illness (valuable during the first
year when infants immune system is not dully prepared)
First two or three days after delivery, breast produce colostrums premilk substance that contains serum
with antibodies and WBC. It protects infants from infections. Maternal antibodies swallowed with the milk
inactivate pathological bacteria within the digestive tract.
Colostrum is the special milk that is secreted in the first 23 days after delivery. It is produced in small
amounts, about 4050 ml on the first day, but is all that an infant normally needs at this time. Colostrum is
rich in white cells and antibodies, especially sIgA, and it contains a larger percentage of protein, minerals
and fat-soluble vitamins (A, E and K) than later milk. Vitamin A is important for protection of the eye and for
the integrity of epithelial surfaces, and often makes the colostrum yellowish in colour.
Colostrums and breast milk provide a powerful agent that helps preventing bacterial infection: bifidus
factors, lactoferrin, and lactadherin.

Bifidus factors favor the growth of friendly bacterium Lactobaciullus bifidus in infants digestive
tract. So other harmful bacteria cant be established.
Lactoferrin iron-binding protein that keeps bacteria from getting the iron they need to grow and helps
absorb iron into infants blood-stream.
Lactahedrin inhibit the replication of virus that may cause diarrhea.

Breast milk contains many factors that help to protect an infant against infection including:
1. Immunoglobulin, principally secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), which coats the intestinal mucosa
and prevents bacteria from entering the cells;
2. White blood cells which can kill micro-organisms;
3. Whey proteins (lysozyme and lactoferrin) which can kill bacteria, viruses and fungi;
4. Oligosacccharides which prevent bacteria from attaching to mucosal surfaces.
The protection provided by these factors is uniquely valuable for an infant. First, they protect without causing
the effects of inflammation, such as fever, which can be dangerous for a young infant. Second, sIgA contains
antibodies formed in the mothers body against the bacteria in her gut, and against infections that she has
encountered, so they protect against bacteria that are particularly likely to be in the babys environment.

Benefits of breastfeeding
The evidence is well-established, for both the benefits to mother and baby of breastfeeding, and the
significant risks of not breastfeeding. Breastfeeding has some of the most wide-reaching and long lasting
effects on your baby's health and development.
Babies who breastfeed at a lower risk of
Gastroenteritis
Respiratory infections

Sudden infant death syndrome

Obesity

Type 1 & 2 diabetes

Allergies (e.g. asthma, lactose intolerance)
Benefits to mothers
The longer mothers breastfeed, the greater their protection against breast and ovarian cancer, and
hip fractures in later life.
Recent evidence has demonstrated an association between prolonged breastfeeding and
postmenopausal risk factors for cardiovascular (CV) disease.
The World Cancer Research Fund includes breastfeeding as one of 10 recommendations to reduce the
risk.
These illnesses all represent the greatest threats to womens health across all ages.