Human milk banking: A brief overview

Abstract

Human breast milk is the most nutrient-rich and ideal nutrition for all infants. Breast milk is convenient, hygienic, safe, affordable, and contains antibodies that contribute to preventing many common pediatric diseases. Additionally, infants who are exclusively breastfed for six months have significantly lower rates of gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infections. Breastfeeding is beneficial for brain development and lowers the incidence of sudden infant death [1]. Human milk constitutes bioactive and nutritional factors; microorganisms, stem cells, and oligosaccharides are also present, contributing to brain development and the maturation of the immune system and gut [2]. Children fed with human breast milk also demonstrated better white and gray matter development, resulting in higher language scores and a higher neurodevelopment level, such as better intelligence quotient (IQ), memory, and academic success in the subsequent years [3, 4]. Consequently, breast milk microbiota contributes to the colonization of an infant's gut, possibly contributing to a child's health [5].