QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chirico, G. Articles by Gasparoni, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Chirico, G. Articles by Gasparoni, A. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Immune System and Disorders Infectious Diseases

---

Supplement: Influence of Diet on Infection and Allergy in Infants

Antiinfective Properties of Human Milk^1,2

Department of Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care, Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy

The unfavorable effects of neonatal immunodeficiency are limited by some naturally occurring compensatory mechanisms, such as the introduction of protective and immunological components of human milk in the infant. Breast-feeding maintains the maternal-fetal immunological link after birth, may favor the transmission of immunocompetence from the mother to her infant, and is considered an important contributory factor to the neonatal immune defense system during a delicate and crucial period for immune development. Several studies have reported that breast-feeding, because of the antimicrobial activity against several viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, may reduce the incidence of infection in infants. The protection from infections may be ensured either passively by factors with antiinfective, hormonal, enzymatic, trophic, and bioactive activity present in breast milk, or through a modulator effect on the neonatal immune system exerted by cells, cytokines, and other immune agents in human milk.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail gaechirico{at}alice.it.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. K. A. Visser Dietary Influences on Infection and Allergy in Infants: Introduction J. Nutr., September 1, 2008; 138(9): 1768S - 1769S. [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. U. Wahn Strategies for Atopy Prevention J. Nutr., September 1, 2008; 138(9): 1770S - 1772S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. M'Rabet, A. P. Vos, G. Boehm, and J. Garssen Breast-Feeding and Its Role in Early Development of the Immune System in Infants: Consequences for Health Later in Life J. Nutr., September 1, 2008; 138(9): 1782S - 1790S. [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Morelli Postnatal Development of Intestinal Microflora as Influenced by Infant Nutrition J. Nutr., September 1, 2008; 138(9): 1791S - 1795S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Biasucci, B. Benenati, L. Morelli, E. Bessi, and G. Boehm Cesarean Delivery May Affect the Early Biodiversity of Intestinal Bacteria J. Nutr., September 1, 2008; 138(9): 1796S - 1800S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Gottrand Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Influence the Immune System of Infants J. Nutr., September 1, 2008; 138(9): 1807S - 1812S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. N. Lafeber, E. A. M. Westerbeek, A. van den Berg, W. P. F. Fetter, and R. M. van Elburg Nutritional Factors Influencing Infections in Preterm Infants J. Nutr., September 1, 2008; 138(9): 1813S - 1817S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Boehm and G. Moro Structural and Functional Aspects of Prebiotics Used in Infant Nutrition J. Nutr., September 1, 2008; 138(9): 1818S - 1828S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. B. van Goudoever, W. Corpeleijn, M. Riedijk, M. Schaart, I. Renes, and S. van der Schoor The Impact of Enteral Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 and Nutrition on Gut Permeability and Amino Acid Utilization J. Nutr., September 1, 2008; 138(9): 1829S - 1833S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]