Abstract
Breast milk is an optimal food for infants and toddlers. The composition of breast milk adapts to the needs of the developing organism, satisfying nutritional needs at an early stage of growth and development. The results of research to date have shown that breast milk is the best food for a child, containing not only nutrients but also biologically active substances that aid in the optimal, proper growth and development of infants. Among the many components of breast milk, an important element is the probiotic microflora, including bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus spp. These organisms exert a multidirectional, health-promoting effect on the body of children who consume breast milk. The number of lactic acid bacteria, including Lactobacillus, colonizing the breast milk environment and their species diversity varies and depends on many factors, both maternal and environmental. Breast milk, as a recommended food for infants, is an important source of probiotic microflora. The aim of this study was to present the current understanding of probiotic bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus present in breast milk.
Highlights
Breast milk is a natural food for infants and young children
Bifidobacteria isolated from 10.61% samples of breast milk
Probiotic bacteria are an important element that contributes to the proper development of children
Summary
Breast milk is a natural food for infants and young children. It satisfies the nutritional needs of a growing and developing infants on many levels. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life and continued breastfeeding while expanding the diet at least until the age of two [1]. Recommends that infants should be breastfed for the first six months of life with continued breastfeeding while expanding their diet with complementary foods for a year or more [2]. In 2013–2018, only 41% of children under 6 months of age were exclusively breastfed worldwide [4]. The promotion of breastfeeding is recognized as an important element of social policy aimed at reducing the mortality of newborns and young children as well as reducing the financial costs of the treatment of children from this age group
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