In human breast milk contains more than 200 different sugars and more complex than that of other mammals. That is the conclusion reached by researchers from the United States. However, scientists still remains a mystery, what is the role of each of these molecules, and why during breastfeeding their structure changes.
The majority of animal and human milk is the first product that they receive after birth. However, some sugar molecules are not intended for the feeding of breast milk. Kids are born sterile, their intestines do not contain any bacteria, but after a few days there are millions of microorganisms, and in a few weeks - the billions.
Coming from the mother's milk sugar - usually the first components, which consume bacteria. Human breast milk also plays an important role in the development of baby's immune system. After the birth of the baby is getting milk, rich in maternal protective antibodies, which protects it from harmful bacteria and infections.
A month later in babies begin to form their own adaptive immune system, and the composition of mother's breast milk changes as the level of maternal antibodies is reduced by more than 90%. We observed a significant reduction in the diversity of sugar molecules in breast milk, which reduces choice for bacteria. As a child growing up in the breast milk of the mother increases the amount of fat and other nutrients that are beneficial to the growth of the baby.
Despite this wealth of breast milk, children can grow up perfectly healthy, to use a limited amount of it, or not receiving mother's milk. And this raises the question of how necessary is breastfeeding. However, breast milk is uniquely reduces infant mortality, and the risk of encounter many diseases, but its long-term effects on the health of the child still not enough information.
