Breast milk provides better antioxidant power than does formula

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Nutrition
• Biochemistry
• Pediatric Health

Background:

• Infant feeding practices significantly impact neonatal health and development.
• Oxidative status is a critical indicator of infant well-being.
• Assessing the impact of breast milk versus formula on oxidative markers is essential for nutritional guidance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the comparative effects of breast milk and cow's milk formula on infant plasma oxidative status.
• To evaluate biomarkers including total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total peroxide (TP), and oxidative stress index (OSI).

Main Methods:

• A study involving 54 healthy term infants aged 3-6 months, divided into breast milk and formula-fed groups.
• Measurement of plasma TAC, vitamin C, albumin, bilirubin, and uric acid as antioxidative markers.
• Assessment of plasma TP levels and calculation of OSI to determine oxidative status.

Main Results:

• Breast-fed infants exhibited significantly higher plasma TAC and vitamin C levels.
• Formula-fed infants showed higher plasma TP levels and OSI, indicating increased oxidative stress.
• No significant differences in growth or anthropometric measurements were observed between the groups.

Conclusions:

• Breast milk demonstrates superior antioxidant properties compared to standard cow's milk formula.
• Breast milk feeding is associated with better oxidative status in infants.
• These findings support the recommendation of breast milk for optimal infant antioxidant defense.