Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 29, 2026

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation
09:02

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation

Published on: February 15, 2018

Observations questioning a protective role for breast-feeding in severe rotavirus diarrhea

R I Glass, B J Stoll, R G Wyatt

    Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica
    |September 1, 1986
    PubMed

    Insights

    Breast-feeding may offer some early protection against diarrhea. However, this study found no evidence that breast-feeding protects children against rotavirus diarrhea (RVD) after the initial months of life.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatrics
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Public Health

    Background:

    • Rotavirus diarrhea (RVD) is a significant cause of childhood illness globally.
    • Breast-feeding is widely recognized for its health benefits, including potential protection against infections.
    • The specific protective role of breast-feeding against RVD requires further investigation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To determine if breast-feeding offers protection against rotavirus diarrhea (RVD) in children.
    • To analyze the association between breast-feeding, age, and specific enteric pathogens.

    Main Methods:

    • A comparative study was conducted on 2,276 children aged 0-4 years admitted to a diarrhea hospital in Bangladesh.
    • Breast-feeding rates were analyzed by age and in relation to different enteric pathogens.
    • Breast milk neutralizing activity against rotavirus was assessed.

    Main Results:

    • Early breast-feeding (0-5 months) showed a potential association with reduced diarrhea from all agents compared to older infants (6-11 months).
    • Breast-feeding was more prevalent in children with RVD than other causes, but less common in those with cholera or shigellosis.
    • High levels of neutralizing activity in breast milk against rotavirus did not correlate with protection against RVD.

    Conclusions:

    • Breast-feeding does not appear to protect against rotavirus diarrhea (RVD) beyond the first few months of life.
    • Prolonged breast-feeding, common in Bangladesh, did not alter the mean age of RVD hospitalization compared to regions with shorter durations.
    • The findings suggest limited long-term protective effects of breast-feeding against RVD in this population.

    Keywords:
    Age DistributionAge FactorsAsiaBangladeshBiologyBreast Feeding--beneficial effectsData CollectionDemographic FactorsDeveloping CountriesDiarrheaDiarrhea, Infantile--prevention and controlDiseasesGastrointestinal EffectsHealthInfant NutritionNutritionPhysiologyPopulationPopulation CharacteristicsResearch MethodologySouthern Asia

    More Related Videos

    Effect of Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa on an In Vitro Model of Preterm Small Intestinal Injury and Healing Using Enteroid-Derived Monolayers09:36

    Effect of Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa on an In Vitro Model of Preterm Small Intestinal Injury and Healing Using Enteroid-Derived Monolayers

    Published on: July 28, 2022

    A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect05:04

    A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

    Published on: September 22, 2023

    Related Concept Videos

    Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets01:17

    Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets

    Transmission-based precautions are for patients known to be infected or suspected to be infected or colonized with organisms that pose a significant risk to others. Some transmission-based precautions include contact, enteric, and droplet.
    Contact Precautions:
    Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
    Development of Human Microbiota01:30

    Development of Human Microbiota

    The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
    Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

    Development of the Oral Microbiota

    The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
    Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

    Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

    Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...