Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2025
Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation
Published on: February 15, 2018
The role of human milk nutrients in preventing necrotizing enterocolitis
Ahmad S Sami1, Lauren C Frazer2, Claire M Miller2
1Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
Insights
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious intestinal disease in preterm infants. Breast milk is a key preventative strategy, with bioactive nutrients crucial for protecting neonatal gut health and preventing NEC.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal medicine
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
Background:
- Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe intestinal disease affecting preterm infants.
- Its pathophysiology involves immune response, mucosal injury, and potential intestinal necrosis.
- Current NEC treatments are limited, highlighting the need for preventative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms of breast milk's protective effects against NEC.
- To explore how bioactive nutrients in breast milk influence neonatal intestinal physiology.
- To discuss experimental models used in NEC research.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on breast milk's role in NEC.
- Analysis of mechanisms involving bioactive nutrients.
- Examination of experimental NEC models.
Main Results:
- Breast milk is an effective preventative strategy for NEC.
- Bioactive nutrients in breast milk modulate neonatal intestinal health.
- Experimental models are vital for understanding NEC pathophysiology.
Conclusions:
- Understanding breast milk's impact is crucial for NEC prevention.
- Further research using experimental models can improve NEC outcomes.
- Targeting bioactive nutrients may offer novel therapeutic approaches.
Abstract:
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an intestinal disease that primarily impacts preterm infants. The pathophysiology of NEC involves a complex interplay of factors that result in a deleterious immune response, injury to the intestinal mucosa, and in its most severe form, irreversible intestinal necrosis. Treatments for NEC remain limited, but one of the most effective preventative strategies for NEC is the provision of breast milk feeds. In this review, we discuss mechanisms by which bioactive nutrients in breast milk impact neonatal intestinal physiology and the development of NEC. We also review experimental models of NEC that have been used to study the role of breast milk components in disease pathophysiology. These models are necessary to accelerate mechanistic research and improve outcomes for neonates with NEC.
