Role of the biological active components of human milk on long-term growth and neurodevelopmental outcome

Human Milk is the best option for infant feeding; and for this reason, it should be promoted, protected, and supported. HM is an individual-specific-dynamic biofluid, characterized by an extreme variability in its composition. A wealth of literature has investigated how HM is related to healthy development. An association between HM composition, including nutrients and growth-related hormones as well as other bioactive components, and short-term and long-term infant outcomes could support this statement; however, the evidence is limited. In fact, HM composition is difficult to examine as it is dynamic and changes within a single feed, diurnally, according to stage of lactation and between and within populations. The aim of this review is summarizing only the innovative knowledge on the association between HM composition and long-term outcomes: infant growth and neurodevelopment. In this specific contest, macronutrients and historical biological component with well recognized effect were excluded (i.e. LCPUFA, DHA, iodine). Revised articles have been found in MEDLINE using breast milk-related outcomes, neurodevelopment, infant growth, breast milk-related biological factors, biomarkers, biological active components, and constituents as keywords. Moreover, we focus our search on the latest research results.