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

Lymph capillaries, Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X...

Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Characteristics of metazoa, Characteristics of Metazoa The unicellular...

Characteristics of Metazoa The unicellular protozoans are highly versatile and successful organisms that show remarkable organization and division of labour within the confine

Chlamydiosis, CHLAMYDIOSIS Amongst various causes of morbidity and mortali...

CHLAMYDIOSIS Amongst various causes of morbidity and mortality chlamydiosis is recognized as one of the important infectious conditions and emerging as threat to the livestock due

Show the process of chemotaxonomy, Q. Show the process of Chemotaxonomy ? ...

Q. Show the process of Chemotaxonomy ? Chemotaxonomy is a science which uses chemical information as a character for taxonomic purposes. Before we analyse the basis of this mod

Sterilization of apparatus for microbiology experiments, Sterilization of A...

Sterilization of Apparatus for Microbiology Experiments : Containers of dangerous biological materials and the doors leading to laboratories or rooms in which work with pathogenic

Describe diversity of ion channel structure, Describe three mechanisms cell...

Describe three mechanisms cells use to produce diversity of ion channel structure and function.

Explain activators, Activators Activity  of many  enzymes is  influence...

Activators Activity  of many  enzymes is  influenced by  certain ions called as activators. Large number of enzymes such as hexokinase that require ATF are also in need of diva

Difference between self pollination and cross pollination, What is the diff...

What is the difference between self pollination and cross pollination? Which of these two modes of pollination contributes more to the plant diversity? Self pollination happens

What is enzyme kinetics, What is enzyme kinetics The study of the rate ...

What is enzyme kinetics The study of the rate at which an enzyme works is called enzyme kinetics.

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