... Abstract Human milk contains all nutritive and bioactive compounds to give infants the best possible start in life. Human milk bioactives cover a broad range of components, including immune cells, antimicrobial proteins, microbes, and human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). Over the last decade...

...Key Messages Human milk is the preferred alternative for feeding very low birth weight infants in the neonatal intensive care unit because of its role in the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis. Donor human milk from a milk bank appears to be the best alternative for premature infants...

... Abstract Human milk contains numerous immune-protective components that protect the premature infant from sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis. Because of these protective effects, human milk is the feeding of choice for the premature infant. However, human milk does not provide adequate...

... Abstract Cow's milk is increasingly suggested to play a role in the development of chronic degenerative, non-communicable disorders whereas goat's milk is advocated as having several health benefits. Cow's milk is a rich and cheap source of protein and calcium, and a valuable food for bone...

... Abstract Until the early 20th century, a wet nurse was the only safe alternative to breastfeeding, one reason being that each species has a unique composition of its milk. When techniques for chemical analyses of milks and assessment of the energy requirements of infants became available during...

... Abstract Human milk is the recommended sole source of nutrition for infants during the first 6 months of age, thanks to its composition rich in nutritious and bioactive components. Progress in analytics has allowed for a detailed description of its components and their variability within...

... Abstract Human milk is the optimal food for the growing infant and breastfeeding has been associated with short- and long-term benefits for both infant and mother. Human milk composition is adapted to stages of infant development from the immunologically rich colostrum to energy dense mature...

... Abstract Breastfeeding protects the infant against diseases, although the mechanisms are not fully understood. Besides macro- and micronutrients, breast milk contains a range of bioactive components such as immunoglobulins, hormones and growth factors, cytokines, and antimicrobial compounds...

... Abstract Human milk is the best source of infant nutrition and is recognized as a biological fluid vital for optimal growth and development. It has established short- and long-term benefits to infants and mothers. Sapiens’ milk has coevolved with mammalian species for millennia which has...

... outcomes (NEC and LOS) with limited longer-term outcomes. Strategies maximizing early maternal breast milk (MOM) exposure and duration of MOM use are key given global health benefits of MOM, but few feeding trials use these as outcomes. Current data support colostrum receipt, early introduction...

... Abstract Donor milk (DM) is of increasing interest as primary nutritional source for preterm infants. Safe access requires special infrastructure, trained staff, sophisticated algorithms, and standard operating procedures as well as quality control measures. DM has limitations like low protein...

... Abstract Mother’s own milk is universally recognized as the optimal source of nutrition for preterm infants, although most authorities agree a multi-nutrient fortifier must be added in order to support nutrient accretion at a rate comparable to in utero. Nevertheless, many preterm infants face...

... Abstract For preterm and small-for-gestational age infants on enteral nutrition, the best solution is to add human milk fortifier (HMF) to human milk (HM) which is provided by the mother or a milk bank. HMF provides a means to add additional protein, energy, and micronutrients, while...

... Abstract Providing a human milk fortifier once the preterm infant has started to suckle at the breast can be challenging for the mother and might shorten duration of the breastfeeding period. Fortification is recommended up to term for the normal-growing infant and up to 3 months in growth...