Breastmilk, gut flora colonization and immune systems

Breastmilk has a positive influence on a baby’s initial gut bacteria colonization – important for developing a newborn’s healthy metabolic functions and immune system.

However, the specific underlying mechanisms of breastmilk are not yet fully understood, which prompted the research project now underway at the Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center at Harvard-affiliated MassGeneral Hospital for Children and supported by FLRF.

The project aims to reduce the number of children affected by inflammatory allergic and chronic diseases caused by unbalanced colonization of infants’ intestines, through better understanding of breastmilk’s protective mechanisms.

Discover more in the press release below. Would you like to keep current on related developments? Sign up for our newsletter.