Breastfeeding and the Immune System

The importance of breastfeeding newborns is now generally recognized throughout the world. Not only are immediate benefits to the health of nursing infants apparent, but there are lasting effects of breastfeeding on the immune system, resulting in enhanced protection against infection, and a decreased risk for certain inflammatory diseases. Specifically, breastfeeding confers protection against gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases and otitis media through antibody-dependent factors, and has been associated with lower global morbidity and mortality. There is also evidence to suggest that premature infants have a more critical requirement for breast milk than full term infants. Protection against insulin-dependent diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and childhood cancer have also been associated with breastfeeding, although prospective studies are needed to confirm these observations.

Breastfeeding is now recognized as a critical factor in protecting newborns against infections, particularly in developing countries. For example, the World Health Organization has indicated that increasing breastfeeding by 40% would reduce respiratory deaths by 50% and diarrheal deaths by 66% worldwide in children less than 18 months of age. Exclusive breastfeeding decreased the risk of dying from respiratory infections by 3.6-fold compared with formula or cow’s milk feeding and halved the incidence of diarrhea. This is quite understandable when one considers the many anti-infection components in breast milk.

Glycoscience is the broad term for the study of structure and function of sugars (glyco is the greek work for sugar) in the body. These healthy sugars are the foundation of glyconutrients, ingredients found in Mannatech’s proprietary products created to help our individual cells communicate. You may not be receiving these beneficial sugars in the right amounts from the food you eat. That’s where Mannatech offers hope. Mannatech leads the industry in glyconutrient technology around the world and strives to offer better solutions for global health.