Hanyang Medical Reviews  2010;30(1):8-16

doi:10.7599/hmr.2010.30.1.8

Nutrients and Bioactive Factors in Breastmilk.

Jeong Wan SEO 1

Affiliations

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Keywords

Breastmilk; Breastfeeding; Bioactive factors; Nutrients

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Breastmilk provides the best optimal nutrition for infants, especially for the first few months of life. In breastmilk, there are innumerable immune protective and modulating factors. Also, the nutrients in breastmilk act as immune protective factors. The advantages of breastfeeding are not only for protection from infectious diseases, but also protection from some chronic disease, such as celiac disease, atopy, and obesity. A dose-response relationship of breastfeeding has been reported. For lifelong health, breastfeeding is the first step. In Korea, the majority of mothers obtain information about breastfeeding from internet searching, books and magazines. Physicians should actively and enthusiastically recommend breastfeeding and provide detailed advice and integral information about breastfeeding.