Mother's Milk and Intrinsic Immunity

Innate Immunity and Breast Milk

Human milk is a dynamic source of nutrients and bioactive factors; unique in providing for the human infant's optimal growth and development. The growing infant's immune system has a number of developmental immune deficiencies placing the infant at increased risk of infection. This review focuses on how human milk directly contributes to the infant's innate immunity. Remarkable new findings cla...

A Contaminant in Mothers' Milk

A class of compounds known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)-flame-retardant additives used in high-impact plastics, foams, and textiles-has recently sparked concerns among environmental health scientists. PBDEs are part of a superfamily of related toxic compounds known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Limited evidence suggests they may be associated with health effects includin...

Ionisable Iron in Cows' and Mothers' Milk

Markets, breastfeeding and trade in mothers’ milk

This introduction to a special issue on the economics of breastfeeding draws attention to the lack of economic justice for women. Human milk is being bought and sold. Commodifying and marketing human milk and breastfeeding risk reinforcing social and gender economic inequities. Yet there are potential benefits for breastfeeding, and some of the world's poorest women might profit. How can we imp...

Symposium: Innate Immunity and Human Milk Innate Immunity and Human Milk

Human neonates are born with an immature and naı̈ve acquired immune system, and many of the innate components of mucosal immunity are not fully developed. Thus, the innate immune system of human milk is an important complement to the mucosal barrier of the developing gut. The nursing mother provides her infant many protective agents through milk, a growing number of which have been identified as...