Breastfeeding and the Influence of the Breast Milk Microbiota on Infant Health

Abstract

Nutrition is an essential condition for physical, mental, and psycho-emotional growth for both children and adults. It is a major determinant of health and a key factor for the development of a country. Breastfeeding is a natural biological process, essential for the development of the life of the newborn at least during the first six months by ensuring a nutritional contribution adapted to the needs of the latter. Thus, breast milk is the physiological and natural food best suited to the nutrition of the newborn. It contains several various components, which are biologically optimized for the infant. Cells are not a negligible component of breast milk. Breast milk is also a continuous source of commensal and beneficial bacteria, including lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria. It plays an important role in the initiation, development, and composition of the newborn’s gut microbiota, thanks to its pre-and probiotic components. Current knowledge highlights the interdependent links between the components of breast milk, the ontogeny of intestinal functions, the development of the mucus intestinal immune system, colonization by the intestinal microbiota, and protection against pathogens. The quality of these interactions influences the health of the newborn in the short and long term.