A new study for UC San Deigo school of medicine has found a link between breast milk concentration and infant weight and body composition. No surprise there, but what is interesting is the attention the study has received from the infant formula industry that wants to use the data to create products that more closely mimic the natural stuff.
While that may seem like a good idea theoretically, in reality, imitating human breast milk with an artificial industrial concoction is a fool’s errand. The essential fluid is a complex mixture containing hundreds of nutritional compounds, many in amounts so small they can barely be detected. In addition to peptides, amino acids, minerals and vitamins, breast milk contains immune building substances and molecules including melatonin, thyroid hormone, cannabanoids like CBD and epidermal growth factors. Many of these are found in microscopic concentrations, and their effects are more about their synergy than their infinitesimal concentration.
What’s more, breast milk as a whole contains significant anti-pedatric cancer properties that have not been attributed to any of its individual components. Recently scientists have discovered that traces of a sugar molecule called oligosaccharides (found in breast milk) might help reduce food sensitization in babies, preventing eczema, asthma, respiratory infections and other allergic diseases.
Of course all these substances are dependent on moms nutritional status. So, breastfeeding mothers need to be eating correctly and supplementing to ensure a nutritionally robust mammary milk mixture.
