The Impact of Maternal Breast Milk in Preventing Necrotizing Enterocolitis: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Context: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), as a life-threatening gastrointestinal tract disease, is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Extensive inflammation, progressive hemorrhagic necrosis, and overwhelming infection of the gut are reasons why NEC is known as a devastating disease in premature infants. Almost 45% of affected preterm infants die, and those who survive suffer from multiple complications. Human milk, the best food for newborns, plays a significant role in supporting the immune system. Both mother’s own milk (MOM) and donor human milk (DHM) are particularly important in the prevention and lessening of the severity of NEC. Evidence Acquisition: We searched PubMed, Elsevier, and Google Scholar databases for articles that investigated the correlation between NEC and human milk. Then all data were accessed about their relevancy to this current subject. Results: In summary, the purpose of this article is to firstly review the protective role of breast milk components against NEC, and secondly discussing the correlation between human milk and NEC in clinical studies. Human milk bio-components, including Lactoferrin, oligosaccharides, maternal soluble IgA, epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor, prebiotic, probiotics, and antioxidants, have a protective effect against NEC. However, the importance of these components in donor human milk and the formula is underestimated. Conclusions: Human milk, as the first-choice of nutritional source, comprises a wide diversity of copious bio-components, which dwindle the risk and severity of NEC in many ways. The exact mechanisms are still unclear, the evidence strongly point out that human milk is superior to any other nutrition concerning protecting the gastrointestinal tract from NEC.