The breastmilk as guardian of an immune treasure

Abstract

Breast milk is the most complete food for feeding neonates. In addition to its nutritional richness, it has multiple immune components that will participate both in the passive and active responses of the newborn and in the proper development and maturation of the immune system. Milk banks are institutions for collection, processing, and distribution of breast milk voluntarily donated to be used in cases where newborns cannot be fed by their own mother, at least during hospitalization period. This review aims to highlight the benefits of breast milk on the nutrition and maturation and functioning of the infant's immune system and therefore highlight the role of milk banks. The pasteurization process produces a decrease in the milk immune components, which is why these are kept in lower concentrations and still fulfill their functions in the newborn's immune system. The effect of this process on the cells of breast milk in newborns are not yet known.