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Does Breastfeeding Provide Immunity?
This article appeared in The Compleat Mother Magazine
("Does Breastfeeding Provide Immunity?") -- the title was
"Breastmilk: The White Blood" and was in Vol. 46, Summer,1997, p.34.
First from my "nutritional" background. Breast milk contains white
blood cells and antibodies (IgA, IgM and a little IgG). Along with these is an
iron-grabbing protein, lactoferrin, which binds iron, keeping bacteria from
getting the iron they need to grow on. Both white blood cells and lactoferrin
have been shown to greatly reduce or curtail bacterial growth in freshly
expressed breast milk. If the milk is frozen then this activity is greatly
diminished or eliminated (depending on the freezer temp and length of time).
Colostrum contains a greater concentration of antibodies than the milk that
follows it, however, the breast milk also contains these agents which have been
shown to protect the infant agains life threatening intestinal disorders.
Antibodies inactivate dangerous bacteria in the infant's digestive tract where
they would cause great harm, while promoting the growth of "digestive
friendly" bacteria, such as Lactobacillus.
Infants under the age of 4 to 6 months have an "open gut". This
term refers to the interstitial space between the cells of the small intestine.
In infants this allows the passage of intact proteins directly from their gut
into their blood stream. It has been shown that the antibodies in breast milk
will pass directly into the blood stream of infants--thus giving the infant
passive immunities. These may be antibodies that are generated by the mother
when the mother is exposed to some illness. These antibodies are therefore very
specific in defending the infant against germs to which the mother (and
therefore probably the infant) has been exposed.
Likewise, large proteins from other "foods" can pass into the
blood stream of infants. This is one reason that if an infant is exposed to a
food that may cause allergic reactions, this is the time that it will occur
with the most devastating results, and usually life-long allergy. Milk proteins
from cow's milk are often found whole in the blood stream of infants fed cow
milk based formulas or whole cow's milk, and are more likely to develop allergies
to them. Soy allergies, while not as common, can also occur. There is a link
between the feeding of soy based formula and peanut allergies.
After 6 months, the gut "closes" and large proteins do not pass
intact into the blood stream. This eliminates the passive immunity. However,
there is still the benefit of decreased ear infections.
Infants that are breast fed are less likely to get ear infections. One of
the reasons being that when the milk pools in the ear cannal (and this happens
in all infants due to the shape of the eustacian tubes) with breast milk, there
is less bacterial growth.
As proof of this I offer my first son, Kevin. He was
born without an immune system. He was exclusively breastfed for the first 4 1/2
months of his life and healthy as anything. With the introduction of solids he
broke out in "hives". With the removal of solids, and return to full
breast feeding his skin cleared up--until 6 months of age, when he began to get
one cold after another, ear infections, pneumonia. His skin became a nightmare
of eczema sores. He was misserable. Food totally disagreed with his system. He
was then diagnosed with Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (or bubble boy
disease). He was given a bone marrow transplant at 9 months, however he became
ill and the bone marrow "rejected" him, and he died following
complications resultant from that at 18 months.
My breast milk kept him healthy for the first 6 months of his life. My
breast milk kept him alive for 18 months, almost exclusively.
Resources:
For more information, visit the La Leche League website at http://www.lalecheleague.org/. I have
been a proud member of LLL for several years.
Barret, James T. Textbook of Immunology, An introduction to
immunochemistry and immunobiology. 3rd Ed. C.V. Mosby Company, St. Louis,
1978.
Hegarty, Vincent. Decisions in Nutrition. Times Mirror/Mosby College
Publishing, St. Louis, 1988.
Whitney, Eleanor Noss & Hamilton, Eva May Nunnelley. Understanding
Nutrition. 3rd Ed. West Publishing Company, N.Y., 1984.
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wondermom@ij.net
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1997-98 Arlene Jacobs. Last update 3-28-98. You are visitor 3021since 8-10-96.
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