Review article
https://doi.org/10.26800/LV-145-supl5-23
The role of human milk in the prevention of preterm infant diseases
Anita Pavičić Bošnjak
orcid.org/0000-0002-9887-9038
; Klinički bolnički centar Zagreb, Klinički zavod za transfuzijsku medicinu i transplantacijsku biologiju, Hrvatska banka tkiva i stanica, Banka humanog mlijeka, Odjel za podršku dojenju
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Human milk (HM) is the best food for preterm infants and it contributes to their growth, development and overall health outcomes. Numerous immunologically active components in mother’s milk affect the development of the child’s immune system and protect it from diseases. Donated human milk (DHM) also plays a significant role in disease prevention because after the pasteurization process, its protective role is to a certain extent preserved. In recent years, the results of meta-analyses have shown that mother’s own milk and/or DHM feeding is proven to protect preterm infants from the onset of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and is associated with a significantly lower risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and retinopathy of prematurity. In the prevention of these diseases, feeding with any amount of human milk (HM) is better than feeding with infant formula, while some studies have shown a dose-dependent effect of HM intake. The effect of HM on the prevention of late-onset sepsis is not consistent, but the oropharyngeal application of colostrum has been shown to be effective in the prevention of late-onset sepsis and NEC, which is why the use of breast milk from the first day of life is extremely important in order to fully utilize its protective potential. Recent scientific findings have led to a better understanding of the role of certain biologically active components of breast milk in the diseases prevention in preterm infants. However, only the application of the complete “elixir” of mother’s milk, with all the complexity of its composition and interactions of substances, can result in significant health benefits. The aforementioned findings support the fact that HM for preterm infants is both food and a preventive therapeutic drug. In this sense, one of the key tasks of modern neonatal care is to provide HM feeding for all preterm infants.
Keywords
HUMAN MILK, DONOR HUMAN MILK, PRETERM INFANT, ENTEROCOLITIS NECROTICANS
Hrčak ID:
309088
URI
Publication date:
10.10.2023.
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