Milk Therapy: Unexpected Uses for Human Breast Milk

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Science
• Human Lactation Research
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Human breast milk is recognized for its nutritional completeness.
• Historically, it has been utilized in traditional medicine and ethnomedicine for therapeutic purposes.
• This review focuses on the non-nutritional applications of human milk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and summarize existing studies on the non-nutritional uses of human breast milk.
• To consolidate evidence on the therapeutic potential of human milk components.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar.
• Articles published in English between January 1, 2010, and January 1, 2019, were included.
• Search terms focused on non-nutritional applications of human milk.

Main Results:

• Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review.
• The included studies comprised randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, in vitro research, and animal models.
• Various human milk components demonstrated potential in preclinical settings.

Conclusions:

• Components of human milk show significant promise for therapeutic applications.
• Active clinical evaluations are underway for these components.
• Fresh human breast milk's protective and treatment roles are crucial in resource-limited settings for maternal and infant healthcare.