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Research Project: Impact of Maternal Influence and Early Dietary Factors on Child Growth, Development, and Metabolic Health

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Title: Role of human milk bioactives on infants' gut and immune health

Author
item CARR, LAURA - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item VIRMANI, MISTY - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item ROSA, FERNANDA - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item MUNBLIT, DANIEL - Imperial College
item MATAZEL, KATELIN - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item ELOLIMY, AHMED - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item YERUVA, LAXMI - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)

Submitted to: Frontiers in Immunology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/22/2021
Publication Date: 2/12/2021
Citation: Carr, L.E., Virmani, M.D., Rosa, F., Munblit, D., Matazel, K.S., Elolimy, A., Yeruva, L. 2021. Role of human milk bioactives on infants' gut and immune health. Frontiers in Immunology. 12:604080. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.604080.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.604080

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Exclusive human milk feeding for the newborn during the first 6 months of life is recommended to promote optimal health outcomes during early life and beyond. Human milk contains a variety of bioactive factors such as hormones, cytokines, leukocytes, immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, lysozyme, stem cells, human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), microbiota, and microRNAs. Recent findings highlighted the potential importance of adding HMOs into infant formula for their roles in enhancing host defense mechanisms in neonates. Therefore, understanding the roles of human milk bioactive factors on immune function is critical to build the scientific evidence base around breastfeeding recommendations, and to enhance positive health outcomes in formula fed infants through modifications to formulas. However, there are still knowledge gaps concerning the roles of different milk components, and the mechanisms behind health outcomes are poorly understood. This review aims to show the current knowledge about HMOs, milk microbiota, and milk microRNAs (miRs or miRNAs) and how these could have similar mechanisms of regulating TLRS and microbiota function. It will also highlight the knowledge gaps for future research.