Microbiota de la leche humana en condiciones fisiológicas
- J. M. Rodríguez
- E. Jiménez
- Virginia Merino Sanjuán
- A. Maldonado
- Maria Marin Martinez
- L. Fernández
- R. Martín
ISSN: 0001-6640
Year of publication: 2008
Volume: 66
Issue: 2
Pages: 77-82
Type: Article
More publications in: Acta pediátrica española
Abstract
Breast milk is an important source of commensal, mutualist or probiotic bacteria for infants' intestines. Among the predominant bacteria, several species of staphylococcus, streptococcus and lactic bacteria stand out. Therefore, that fluid represents one of the key factors in the development of an infant's intestinal microbiota. The number of species that coexist in the milk of a healthy woman tends to be low, which would explain why the intestinal microbiota of breastfed infants is made up of a reduced spectrum of species and why the development of a more diverse microbiota coincides with the start of weaning. The bacteria of the milk could play an important role in the prevention of infectious diseases and in the maturation of the immune system. Certain recent studies show that at least part of the commensal bacteria in the milk could come from the maternal intestinal microbiota and would access the mammary gland via the enteromammary pathway.