Basic Nutrition
Breast milk: more than just milk!
Maria Lorella Gianni1,3, Elvira Verduci2, Maria Enrica Bettinelli1, Giulia Vizzari1, Daniela Morniroli3, Fabio Mosca1,3
1Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy 2 Department of Pediatrics, Hospital San Paolo, University of Milan, 20142 Milan, Italy 3Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, NICU, Milan, Italy
Human milk is targeted to meet infants’ nutritional needs. However, it is not only “milk” since its bioactive compounds allow communication within the dyad and promote infants’ health across life span. The synergistic mechanisms underlying the functional effects of human milk have not yet been fully elucidated.