Breast Milk Components and Neurodevelopment of Children

Abstract

Breast milk is considered the gold standard in pediatric nutrition. It contains a wide range of nutrients and other bioactive factors that support enteric and immunologic development of neonates. Some of these constituents have neurobiological properties that play vital role in early brain development and facilitate cognitive development. Understanding the role of these functional nutrients in modulating developmental processes in the brain is emerging area of research. These developmental events depend not only on availability of nutrients, but it also depends on a variety of growth factors and proteins. These components are transported from the mother to the fetus via the placenta prenatally and postnatally through milk. Many studies have highlighted a positive association between breastfeeding on structural brain development, such as increased white matter development and increased cortical thickness. Reports also suggest beneficial effects of breastfeeding on brain and cognitive development from infancy to in adolescence. This review discusses various components in breast milk components which can influence neurodevelopment in children.