Born Smart

Breastmilk composition is mostly still a mystery to us, not just because of its complexity but mainly because of the lack of interest to study it. To me this is a huge oversight, especially considering that we are still fine tuning our genetic switches after birth and it is very likely that breast milk composition will influence these genetic switches as diet can cause epigenetic changes in adults (activate genes that were supposed to be inactive and vice versa).

In a recent study researchers found that breast milk composition include a “magic ingredient” that protects a baby’s intestines. The ingredient PSTI (pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor) is at its highest level in colostrums, the milk mother produces for baby in the first few days after birth, a time when baby is vulnerable to intestine damage because it will be the first time he ingests food or drink.

The researchers used human intestinal cells in a lab and inflicted damage to the cells, they found PSTI stimulated cells to move across the damaged area to form a natural protective plaster. Also PSTI prevented further damage by stopping the cells from self destructing. Before this study, researchers had no idea why breast milk composition included PSTI.

Professor Ray Playford says “This study is important because it shows that a component of breast milk protects and repairs the baby’s delicate intestines in readiness for the onslaught of all the food and drink
that are to come.”

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090629200754.htm