Breast Milk Chemical may Reduce HIV Transmission from Mother to Child

A study in Zambia has focused on the correlation of a particular chemical found in a mother’s breast milk that may inhibit the transmission of the HIV virus from mother to child. The study and research results were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The chemical in human milk known as oligosaccharides has shown significant abilities as an immunological substance.

The test trial results indicated that women whose breast milk contained a higher concentration of the active chemical oligosaccharides had a fifty percent less chance of transmitting the HIV virus to their children. This is an important aspect of HIV prevention, specifically in poor countries that lack the financial funds to offer infant formulas. Women in these countries are being encouraged to breast feed their babies.

Sources:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/27/factor-in-breast-milk-may-cut-h-i-v-spread/?ref=health
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3380612/

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.