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Reproduction, development and work
Published in Chris Winder, Neill Stacey, Occupational Toxicology, 2004
Milk is an emulsion of water and fatty components, the water being similar in content to plasma. Milk production varies during the lactation period. Colostrum is a thin watery milky fluid secreted around the childbirth period which contains more minerals and less fat and carbohydrate than milk, but also 20% protein, including antibodies found in maternal blood, therefore transferring some of the mother’s natural immunity to the child. Milk may be a source of toxic contaminants if they are present in the mother’s circulation (particularly the plasma).
Vaccines
Published in Nduka Okafor, Benedict C. Okeke, Modern Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2017
Nduka Okafor, Benedict C. Okeke
Passive natural immunity is most easily exemplified by maternal immunity in which newborn animals are immune from certain disease for a short period early in their lives due to the crossing of the placenta by certain antibodies (immunoglobulins). In some animals including man, maternal immunity is also acquired by the young’s consumption of colostrum (thick cream-colored milk produced during the first few days after childbirth).
The effect of freeze-drying and storage on lysozyme activity, lactoferrin content, superoxide dismutase activity, total antioxidant capacity and fatty acid profile of freeze-dried human milk
Published in Drying Technology, 2022
Dorota Martysiak-Żurowska, Patrycja Rożek, Małgorzata Puta
Breastfeeding provides newborns with the nutrients and bioactive components essential for growth, development, and immunologic protection. The qualitative composition of milk is similar in every healthy mother, but certain variations are subjected to the mother's diet. The concentrations of almost all milk components change during lactation to meet the child's nutritional needs in various stages of growth. Breast feeding guarantees the optimal development of newborns, which is a particularly important consideration in preterm, low birth weight (LBW, <2500 g) and very low birth weight (VLBW, <1500 g) infants. In preterm, LBW and VLBW children, breast milk, especially colostrum, is not only a food source, but also has therapeutic value.[1] Colostrum, the milk secreted in the first five days after delivery, is characterized by lower fat content than transitional and mature milk as well as a higher content of protein, in particular functional proteins, such as lactoferrin (LF), lysozyme (LZ), cytokines, immunoglobulins, antioxidants and digestive enzymes.[2] Feeding preterm infants with human milk decreases the risk of many diseases, including necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and sepsis.[3–7] Human milk also delivers health benefits for adults, including for patients recovering from acute malnutrition, liver transplants[8] and oncological therapy.[9]