Oddy W H
TVW Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, PO Box 855, West Perth 6872, Western Australia, Australia.
Breastfeed Rev. 2001 Jul;9(2):11-8.
Nutrition is essential to the health and development of infants and children. Breastfeeding is superior to infant formula feeding because in addition to breastmilk's nutritional advantages, it protects against infections through specific and non-specific immune factors and has long-term consequences for metabolism and disease later in life. The objectives of this paper are to summarise the epidemiological and other scientific evidence in support of breastfeeding, to clarify why breastmilk is a better food for infants than infant formula and to demonstrate support for further breastfeeding initiatives in Australia. There is much epidemiological evidence for the benefits of breastfeeding to the human infant against a wide range of illnesses and infections. Other scientific evidence for breastfeeding has demonstrated specific nutritional components that provide immunologic protection and beneficial effects on intestinal flora. Human milk enhances the immature immunologic system of the neonate and strengthens host defence mechanisms against infective and other foreign agents. Mechanisms to explain active stimulation of the infant's immune system by breastfeeding are through bioactive factors in human milk. Following breastfeeding termination there may be prolonged protection against infections due to influences on the infant immune system mediated via human milk. World-wide initiatives have been established to promote breastfeeding and curb the use of infant formula. Primarily the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative promotes the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and should be implemented in all maternity services in Australia. There is enough evidence to support further breastfeeding health promotion initiatives in Australia to ensure that all hospitals become 'baby friendly', that all mothers are encouraged and supported to commence breastfeeding and that there is adequate community support for mothers to continue exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first six months of life.
营养对婴幼儿的健康与发育至关重要。母乳喂养优于婴儿配方奶粉喂养，因为除了母乳的营养优势外，它还通过特异性和非特异性免疫因子预防感染，并对日后的新陈代谢和疾病产生长期影响。本文的目的是总结支持母乳喂养的流行病学及其他科学证据，阐明母乳为何比婴儿配方奶粉更适合婴儿，并论证对澳大利亚进一步开展母乳喂养倡议的支持。有大量流行病学证据表明母乳喂养对人类婴儿预防多种疾病和感染有益。母乳喂养的其他科学证据表明，母乳中的特定营养成分能提供免疫保护并对肠道菌群产生有益影响。母乳可增强新生儿未成熟的免疫系统，强化宿主抵御感染性和其他外来病原体的防御机制。母乳喂养对婴儿免疫系统产生积极刺激的机制是通过母乳中的生物活性因子。母乳喂养终止后，由于母乳对婴儿免疫系统的影响，可能会有对感染的长期保护作用。全球已发起倡议以促进母乳喂养并遏制婴儿配方奶粉的使用。主要是“爱婴医院倡议”推广成功母乳喂养的十项措施，该倡议应在澳大利亚所有产科服务中实施。有足够的证据支持在澳大利亚进一步开展母乳喂养健康促进倡议，以确保所有医院都成为“爱婴医院”，鼓励并支持所有母亲开始母乳喂养，且社区为母亲提供足够支持，使其至少在婴儿出生后的前六个月持续进行纯母乳喂养。
