Despite common beliefs, new research shows that how often and how long mothers breastfeed has almost no impact on milk microbiome diversity.
Study: The human milk microbiome is minimally associated with breastfeeding practices. Image credit: comzeal images/Shutterstock.com
A recent paper in the journal Scientific Reports explored associations between human milk bacteria and breastfeeding attributes.
Introduction
Breast milk is the infant’s source of nutrition, but it is also key to establishing a healthy infant gut microbiome. The bacteria in breast milk prevent gut colonization by pathogens and promote the growth of beneficial microbes.
Most health organizations recommend that infants be exclusively breastfed during the first six months. Human milk contains microbes typically found in the…