Abstract
The purpose of this presentation is to discuss the contents of human milk from the standpoint of specific agents that might serve to protect the newborn infant from infectious disease. There are many factors in human milk for which an immunologic role has been proposed. It is necessary to assess the functions of these different factors as well as to determine whether any of these factors might be expected to survive in the infant’s digestive tract. Finally, assuming that an immunologically active agent is capable of performing its action in the newborn, it is necessary to look at the evidence as to whether an actual significant immune effect is served. This latter task can be approached only through a review of the published epidemiologic studies on breast-feeding.
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© 1982 John Wright · PSG Inc
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LeLeiko, N.S. (1982). Does Human Milk Intrinsically Help Protect Newborns from Infection?. In: Vitale, J.J., Broitman, S.A. (eds) Advances in Human Clinical Nutrition. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8290-1_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8290-1_4
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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