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[Breast-feeding and intestinal parasites]
D Gendrel1, D Richard-Lenoble, M Kombila
1Département de Pédiatrie, Centre Universitaire des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon.
Archives Francaises De Pediatrie
|June 1, 1988
Summary
Human milk offers protection against intestinal parasites like Giardia and Ascaris in infants. Breast-fed infants showed significantly lower parasite excretion compared to artificially fed infants.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Intestinal parasitic infections are a significant health concern in infants.
- Breastfeeding practices vary globally, impacting infant health outcomes.
- Understanding the protective factors of human milk is crucial for child survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in Gabonese infants.
- To compare infection rates among exclusively, partially, and artificially fed infants.
- To investigate the antiparasitic properties of human milk.
Main Methods:
- Fecal examination using four diagnostic methods.
- Study included 400 infants (0.5-24 months) and 170 mothers in an urban African community.
- Infants categorized by feeding method: exclusive, partial, or artificial breastfeeding.
Main Results:
- Mothers' parasitic prevalence was similar across infant feeding groups, indicating uniform exposure.
- Exclusively and partially breast-fed infants excreted significantly fewer parasites than artificially fed infants.
- The protective effect was observed in both the first and second years of life.
Conclusions:
- Human milk exhibits antiparasitic activity, primarily against Giardia and Ascaris.
- This protection is not solely due to reduced parasite exposure in breast-fed infants.
- The mechanism may involve non-antibody factors, potentially including lipids in human milk.