Biomaterial Database

Human milk composition: nutrients and bioactive factors. 2013

Olivia Ballard, and Ardythe L Morrow

Division of Immunobiology, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Human Milk and Lactation, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA. Olivia.Ballard@cchmc.org

This article provides an overview of the composition of human milk, its variation, and its clinical relevance. The composition of human milk is the biological norm for infant nutrition. Human milk also contains many hundreds to thousands of distinct bioactive molecules that protect against infection and inflammation and contribute to immune maturation, organ development, and healthy microbial colonization. Some of these molecules (eg, lactoferrin) are being investigated as novel therapeutic agents. Human milk changes in composition from colostrum to late lactation, within feeds, by gestational age, diurnally, and between mothers. Feeding infants with expressed human milk is increasing.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D007227	Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena	Nutritional physiology of children from birth to 2 years of age.	Infant Nutrition Physiology,Nutrition Physiology, Infant,Complementary Feeding,Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomenon,Infant Nutritional Physiology,Supplementary Feeding,Complementary Feedings,Feeding, Complementary,Feeding, Supplementary,Feedings, Complementary,Feedings, Supplementary,Nutritional Physiology, Infant,Physiology, Infant Nutrition,Physiology, Infant Nutritional,Supplementary Feedings
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007774	Lactation	The processes of milk secretion by the maternal MAMMARY GLANDS after PARTURITION. The proliferation of the mammary glandular tissue, milk synthesis, and milk expulsion or let down are regulated by the interactions of several hormones including ESTRADIOL; PROGESTERONE; PROLACTIN; and OXYTOCIN.	Lactation, Prolonged,Milk Secretion,Lactations, Prolonged,Milk Secretions,Prolonged Lactation,Prolonged Lactations
D007785	Lactose	A disaccharide of GLUCOSE and GALACTOSE in human and cow milk. It is used in pharmacy for tablets, in medicine as a nutrient, and in industry.	Anhydrous Lactose,Lactose, Anhydrous
D008895	Milk, Human	Milk that is produced by HUMAN MAMMARY GLANDS.	Breast Milk,Human Milk,Milk, Breast
D004041	Dietary Fats	Fats present in food, especially in animal products such as meat, meat products, butter, ghee. They are present in lower amounts in nuts, seeds, and avocados.	Fats, Dietary,Dietary Fat,Fat, Dietary
D004044	Dietary Proteins	Proteins obtained from foods. They are the main source of the ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS.	Proteins, Dietary,Dietary Protein,Protein, Dietary
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man