Is Breast-feeding Best?

1. Is Breast-feeding Best? How Breast-milk Provides an Infant with all the Essential Nutrients Haley Hughes, University of Northern Colorado Conclusion Abstract -Deficiency can be prevalent in breast milk and formula but it has been concluded that breast milk provides the essentials to provide an infant with adequate nutrition. -Toxicity is not a problem for breast-fed infants, and problems of deficiency have only been encountered in formula-fed infants. -Several micronutrients are absorbed more efficiently from breast milk than from cows' milk formula. -Other factors depend on how well nourished the mother is and the baby’s acceptance to the milk. -Before making the assumption breast milk is best, the infant needs to be accessed in order to see what is beneficial for the infant. Bates and Prentice (1994), found that breast milk contains all the essential minerals and vitamins for a normal healthy infant. Their review summarizes the nutrients present in breast milk and also compares it to formula and animal milk. The comparison of breast milk helps determine what is needed for an infant to be healthy. . Results Essential Nutrients Found in Breast Milk Fat-soluble Vitamins: -Vitamin A and carotids are necessary for the infant’s vision and epithelial structures. -Vitamin D helps support calcium functions, the liver and kidneys, and is usually acquired by sunlight exposure. Levels of vitamin D need to be monitored because breast milk naturally doesn’t have the full value required but supplementation can be provided. -Vitamin E is a beneficial component of breast milk because it is a lipid-soluble antioxidant. -Vitamin K is crucial to the baby’s health because it supplies blood-clotting factors. Water-soluble vitamins: -Thiamin in breast milk provides a cofactor for carbohydrate metabolism, and without it the baby can suffer from beriberi. -Riboflavin provides two essential cofactors for lipid and general intermediary metabolism. -Vitamin B12 shows the only known function of cobalt in human metabolism. -Folate is important because it aids in the process of DNA formation. Cell division and DNA replication is crucial to the baby’s growth. -Niacinis an essential component of the electron transport chain. -Biotin is an important aid to the reactions of lipid metabolism and fatty acid synthesis -Vitamin C is also provided in breast milk to prevent symptoms of scurvy. Minerals: -Calcium and Phosphorus are required for healthy bone growth. -Magnesium is not a big concern considering abnormalities and supplied. -Iron is needed for hemoglobin and plays an important role in myoglobin and in mitochondria functions. -Zinc is related with loss of appetite and a failure to grow, and possibly by abnormal immune function. -Copperis important to many enzyme functions. -Manganeseis crucial to many enzyme functions as well. Introduction Vitamins and minerals supplied through breast milk for a healthy baby -Support the immune system, -Help normal growth and development -Aid cells and organs to do their jobs -Fat-soluble vitamins dissolve in fat and can be stored in the infant’s body. Growing infants need them even more to promote healthy development. -Water-soluble vitamins are also supplied in breast milk to assist with many body functions and growth. -Minerals such as sodium and potassium aid movement and concentration of the electrolytes that are under hormonal control. -Breast milk supplies all of the essential vitamins and minerals, but it may need to be monitored due to different and unique body chemistry of each individual infant and mother. References -Hughes, Haley. Analyzing the Comparison of Breast-feeding and Formula Feeding for Infant. 2010. -Christopher J Bates and Ann Prentice. (1994). Breast milk as a source of vitamins, essential minerals and trace elements. Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 62. -Nemours. A Personal Decision. 2010. http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/feeding/breast_bottle_feeding.html -Mother and Health Education. Benefits of Breastfeeding. 15 July, 2010. http://tensteps.org/benefits-of-breastfeeding-for-the-infant.shtml -Food Poison Journal. Effects of Bacteria. Marler Clark. 2010. http://www.foodpoisonjournal.com/ Methods -Bates and Prentice researched multiple reviews and studies to determine if breast milk provides the essential nutrients. -They used a systematic review by reading literature reviews focused on the question “Does breast milk have all the essential nutrients?”and tried to identify, appraise, select and synthesize all high quality research evidence relevant to the question. . Acknowledgments Poster based of the review of: Christopher J Bates and Ann Prentice. (1994). Breast milk as a source of vitamins, essential minerals and trace elements. Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 62.