Key biologically active components of breast milk and their beneficial effects

Maternal breast milk is the penultimate nutritional source for term and preterm neonates. Its composition is highly complex and includes multiple factors that enhance the development of nearly every neonatal organ system leading to both short- and long-term health benefits. Intensive research is focused on identifying breast milk components that enhance infant health. However, this research is complicated by the significant impact of maternal factors and the processing of pumped breast milk on bioactive ingredients. Optimizing enteral nutrition is particularly important for preterm neonates who miss the transplacental acquisition of nutrients in the third trimester of pregnancy and are at risk for illnesses associated with gut barrier dysfunction, including sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis. In this review, we will discuss the health benefits of breast milk and its bioactive components.