Breast milk is a miraculous substance, which contains exactly the right elements to help nurture an infant child. Just how miraculous it is is a subject which scientists are constantly exploring. The latest research suggests that it may be even more complex a liquid than was ever thought in the past, as Spanish researchers have now found more than 700 species of bacteria in it.
Of course, the word ‘bacteria’ immediately makes you panic, but of course we are talking about the naturally occurring ‘good’ types of bacteria. The exact role that these types of bacteria have in infant nourishment and development is something that has still got to be discovered, but it is widely agreed that breastmilk is the best substance to maintain infant wellness.
These key Spanish scientists have used a new technique, which is based on the sequencing of DNA, to identify the different sets of bacteria that can be found within breastmilk. This groundbreaking technique now opens up the door to further studies on breastmilk, and could include highlighting the ways in which human milk changes in relation to the age of the infant. This could have a great impact on scientific knowledge about the wellbeing of infants around the world, and could help to work towards solutions to any health concerns that people may feel about breastfeeding.
The study also looked at the difference between colostrum (first milk) and subsequent milk, and between milk at one and six months, comparing analysis of the bacteria found in both. Oral bacteria were also found in breastmilk, leading to further discussion about whether these originated in the milk or within the baby’s mouth.
A significant finding was also that the increased weight of a mother decreased the amount of bacteria present in the milk.
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