Breast Milk: A Lifelong Immune Boost

The benefits of breastfeeding are widely recognized, but new research from the University of Berkeley in California has discovered an additional advantage: breast milk transfers antibodies to the infant that teach the baby's body how to react to friendly bacteria in the intestines, thereby strengthening their immune system for life.

Antibodies from breast milk interact with the mammalian immune system and help establish immune responses that will support the child throughout their life — responses that maintain boundaries and balance between gut bacteria and the host body. If this balance is not achieved or is disrupted later, there could be a risk of chronic inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease or colitis. To preserve this balance, specific antibodies in breast milk promote 'peace' between the immune system and intestinal bacteria.

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"Breastfeeding helps teach the infant's immune system how to appropriately respond to friendly bacteria, many of which will live in the intestines for a lifetime," wrote the study's authors.

When a baby is born, it is suddenly exposed to bacteria from the surrounding world. With the help of breast milk, the body learns to tolerate many types of bacteria, and this relationship benefits health: gut bacteria aid in digestion, strengthen the immune system, and help prevent infections.