Immunological protection of breastfeeding: Difference between revisions

 

In infancy, simple sugars in breast milk, like antibacterial oligosaccharides, are acquired from the mother's milk and excreted in [[urine]]. University studies have shown that these substances cling to the [[mucosa| mucosal]] lining of the [[preputial mucosa]] and protect against [[urinary tract infection]],<ref name="hanson1988">Hanson LA, Karlsson B, Jalil F, et al. Antiviral and antibacterial factors in human milk. In: Hanson LA, ed. ''Biology of Human Milk''. New York Raven Press; 1988. pp. 141-57</ref> as well as [[infection| infections]] in other parts of the body.<ref>Coppa GV, Gabrielli O, Giorgi P, Catassi C, Montanari MP, Veraldo PE, Nichols BL. [https://www.cirp.org/library/disease/UTI/coppa/ Preliminary study of breast feeding and bacterial adhesion to uroepithelial cells]. ''Lancet'' 1990 Mar 10;335(8689):569-71.</ref> Babies excrete in their [[urine]] about 300-500 milligrams of oligosaccharides each day. These compounds prevent virulent strains of ''Escherichia coli'' from adhering to the [[mucosa]]l lining of the entire urinary tract, including the [[foreskin]] and [[glans]]. For these reasons breast-milk is highly efficacious at preventing UTI.<ref>Gothefors L, Olling S, Winberg J. [https://www.cirp.org/library/disease/UTI/gothefors1/ Breastfeeding and biological properties of faecal ''E. coli'' strains]. ''Acta Paediatr Scand'' 1975 Nov;54(6):807-12.</ref> Rigorous studies have repeatedly demonstrated that breast feeding protects against urinary tract infections.<ref name="marild1990">Mårild S. [https://www.cirp.org/library/disease/UTI/marild/ Breastfeeding and Urinary Tract Infections]. ''Lancet'' 1990;336:942.</ref> <ref name="pisacane1990">Pisacane A, et al. [https://www.cirp.org/library/disease/UTI/pisacane/ Breastfeeding and urinary tract infection]. ''The Lancet'', July 7, 1990, p50 </ref> <ref name="pisacane1992">Pisacane A, Graziano L, Mazzarella G, et al. [https://www.cirp.org/library/disease/UTI/pisacane1992/ Breast-feeding and urinary tract infection]. ''J Pediatr'' 1992;120:87-89.</ref>

Researchers have shown that premature foreskin retraction can expose the [[penis]] to hospital strains of ''Escherichia coli'' and can result in [[UTI]].<ref>Winberg J, et al. [https://www.cirp.org/library/disease/UTI/winberg-bollgren/ The prepuce: A mistake of nature?] ''Lancet'' 1989, pp.598-99.</ref> Hence the protective function of the [[foreskin]] is in the child's best interest, especially during chemically treated diaper wearing years where feces mixed with [[urine]] can not only contaminate the permanently exposed [[urinary meatus]] but also the [[amputation]] wound from the circumcision surgery itself.