To welcome their babies into the world after ten months of pregnancy, mothers wish to prepare precious "welcome gifts." It is said that breast milk is a "priceless treasure" from mother to baby. This is because breast milk is the most natural infant food, containing nutrients and antibodies in the most perfect proportions. Various immune proteins and active cells also help to enhance the baby's immunity!
Breastfeeding is an intimate moment for mothers and babies, which not only strengthens the bond between parent and child but also benefits the child's physical and mental development.
Let's begin by understanding the main nutrients in breast milk. The principal nutrients in breast milk, known as "macronutrients", comprise three main components: lactose, lipids, and human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs).
Human milk oligosaccharides are arguably a very unique component of human breast milk. An infant's immune system develops rapidly in the early stages of life, and human milk oligosaccharides are a unique nutrient with the effect of supporting and regulating immunity. They may protect against bacterial, viral, and even microbial infections, while also promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria or helping to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria.
Furthermore, between 10 and 121 TP3T of the energy intake of infants and young children comes from palmitic acid 2.Most of the palmitic acid in breast milk is located at the centre of the triglyceride molecule (i.e. the sn-2 position).This fatty acid structure is closer to the natural nutritional requirements of infants and young children. Its molecular structure is more easily absorbed by the baby’s intestines, and during digestion it is less likely to bind with calcium to form calcium soap, thereby aiding the absorption of fatty acids and calcium.Research has also found that newborns fed infant formula containing high levels of sn-2 palmitate are less likely to experience hard stools compared to those fed standard formula. 3
Furthermore, the high-quality whey protein in breast milk contains a large number of essential amino acids, which are extremely important for the healthy growth and development of infants and young children. The international medical community has repeatedly emphasised that breast milk is a "priceless treasure" from mother to child, and this unique first gift is the greatest wealth for babies, allowing them to grow up strong.
Expert: Dr. Xu Ziyun, Paediatric Specialist
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine (Paediatrics), Honorary Fellow of the Hong Kong Paediatric Society, Member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Postgraduate Diploma in Internal Medicine from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Diploma in Practical Dermatology from Cardiff University
- L BODE. Human milk oligosaccharides: every baby needs a sugar mama; 2012.
- SM INNIS. Dietary triacylglycerol structure and its role in infant nutrition; 2011.
- M YAO et al. Effects of term infant formulas containing high sn-2 palmitate with and without oligofructose on stool composition, stool characteristics, and bifidogenicity; 2014.
