How does breast milk protect children against lower respiratory infections?
Breast milk provides an infant with immunoglobulins, proteins, enzymes and other disease fighting elements, active in preventing infections. Many compounds in breast milk help to fight a respiratory infection. Some of these components include SigA (an important immunoglobulin), lactoferrin (a whey protein) and lysozyme (an enzyme). Lysozyme and lactoferrin work together to destroy invading viruses and bacteria. While lactoferrin takes away necessary nutrients from viruses and bacteria, lysozyme enzymes attack their cell walls. Immunoglobulins, such as SigA, bind the bacteria or virus preventing it from spreading throughout an infant’s body. The more of these substances an infant receives, the better an infant’s body is able to fight off infections or reduce the severity of illness. Formula does not contain any of these naturally occurring compounds. So, although breastfed infants are still susceptible to viruses, this enhanced disease fighting ability may partially explain why breastfe
