Explain characteristics that make breastfeeding beneficial, Biology

Assignment Help:

Explain characteristics that make breastfeeding beneficial to the infant?

We have listed some characteristics that make breastfeeding beneficial to the infant:

• Mature milk contains about 1/3rd the protein found in cow's milk - more than 25% of its nitrogen is non-protein nitrogen. The concentration of casein to whey protein is lower; 1.5 for breast milk and 0.2 for cow's milk. Thus human milk with its low casein content forms a flocculent suspension with a curd tension of 0. These curds are easily digested and hence better tolerated by the infant.
• Lactoferrin in human milk inhibits the growth of certain iron-dependent bacteria in the GI tract and therefore affords protection against gastrointestinal infections.
• Presence of phagocytes, lysozymes and lactoperoxidases, afford immunity against harmful microorganisms such as, S. aureus, Candido sp., Salmonella sp.
• Protection from respiratory tract allergy and eczema.
• Immunoglobulin's provide passive immunity and protect against infection by retarding viral and bacterial invasion of the mucosa.
• Brotective effects have been substantiated for necrotizing enterocolitis, acrodermatitis enteropathica, intractable diarrhoea, pathogenic E. coli infection.

• Relatively low in amino acids that are detrimental at high levels. High in amino acids that infant cannot synthesize e.g. cystine and taurine.
• Lipids: lower in foremilk-hind milk has a threefold higher fat content. Higher content of linoleic and oleic acid, cholestero1,'the latter being needed for myelin synthesis.
• Contains lipase which helps in digestion of milk triglycerides and partly accounts for a greater ease in fat digestion of breastfed infants.
• Higher levels of lactose and nitrogen-containing oligosaccharides which have L. Bifid us promoting activity.
• Minerals: As compared to cow's milk, 6-times more phosphorus 4-times more calcium - lower renal solute load - better availability.
• Lower iron content but nearly 50% of iron in human milk is absorbed.
• Levels of water-soluble vitamins likely to reflect internal dietary or supplementary intake.
• Several hormone-like substances and growth factors in human milk.


The significance of human milk in maintaining the health of an infant was highlighted above. However, we all know that in countries like India, the prevalence of Malnutrition is widespread and it can have serious consequences on the health of the mother- and the quantity/quality of milk secreted. Read the subsequent text to learn more on this aspect.


Related Discussions:- Explain characteristics that make breastfeeding beneficial

What do you mean by current impediments, Q. What do you mean by Current Imp...

Q. What do you mean by Current Impediments? Given the impressive list of past achievements, we expect that quantitative process to biological problems will continue to repay us

Gastrulation, Gastrulation  Gastrulation is the process through whic...

Gastrulation  Gastrulation is the process through which the presumptive areas of organ specific rudimetns present on the surface of blastula move to their specific position

Define excretion of iron in human body, Define Excretion of Iron in Human B...

Define Excretion of Iron in Human Body? Our body has a limited capacity to excrete iron once it has been absorbed. Daily losses in adult man are between 0.9 to 1.05 mg. About 0

Electron transport inhibitors, Electron Transport Inhibitors Several  c...

Electron Transport Inhibitors Several  compounds, including specific drugs, chemicals  and antibiotics  have been known to inhibit the electron  transfer  reactions at specific

Biological monitoring to validate that the sterilizer, Q. Biological monito...

Q. Biological monitoring to validate that the sterilizer? The use of biological monitors (spore tests) is the most reliable method to validate that the sterilizer is functionin

Explain about the dietary reference intakes, Explain about the Dietary Refe...

Explain about the Dietary Reference Intakes? Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) are relatively new to the field of nutrition. The DRIs are a set of four nutrient-based reference

Bovine viral diarrhoea, Bovine viral diarrhoea Bovine viral diarrhoea ...

Bovine viral diarrhoea Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) and mucosal disease (MD) are clinically dissimilar disease syndrome yet have a common viral etiology. The acute disease is

Studying a single rock, Studying a single rock Select a single rock and...

Studying a single rock Select a single rock and try to learn as more as possible about it from careful observation. If it is flat, it is probably a piece or layer from Sediment

Explain irradiation, Explain Irradiation The physical process of expos...

Explain Irradiation The physical process of exposing an object, system, or a material to a high radiant energy for the sterilization or preservation.

What is the economic importance of sponges, Q. What is the economic importa...

Q. What is the economic importance of sponges? a few chemical substances secreted by sponges have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumoral activities and antibiotic and they are used in

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd