(EMAILWIRE.COM, June 06, 2013 ) Canning Vale South, Australia -- Scientists are stating they have found research that explains why babies who are breastfed exclusively have fewer infections than those which are fed on formula.
The UWA and University of Freiburg in Germany utilized 21 breastfeeding mothers and their infants of varying stages of lactation to conduct the study. Stages of the infants ranged from a few days to years into lactation.
The researchers found that leukocytes, which are immune cells, in breast milk increased the for the child when the mother or baby experienced an infection. The research also found that the numbers returned to normal when the infection was over for each respectively.
The effect was equivalent when only the baby had an infection, with the mother remaining asymptomatic. The finding reinforced a long-standing believe that breastfeeding for the protection of the baby's health has a clear causal reality, according to researchers.
"In places where families don't have ready access to medicine, particularly developing countries, breastfeeding may be a determining factor in infant recovery and survival," the study authors said.
"Formula doesn't offer this protection and the ability to adjust to infant needs."
Researchers noted that the findings presented in the newest information is highly relevant to the continued updating of public policies regarding nutrition for infants. The goal is always to maximize the protection of the child, and immunological protection is one that has been considered within studies for some time.
"At the same time, they offer new grounds for examining the mechanisms behind the very low rates of symptomatic HIV and cytomegalovirus disease in infants exclusively breastfed by infected mothers," they said.
These most recent findings suggest that babies who are lacking in exclusive breastfeeding received lower volumes of breast milk (of course) as well as less breast milk that contained proper levels of leukocytes.
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