Often referred to as \u201cliquid gold,\u201d breast milk supports not only for children\u2019s physical health but also for their emotional well-being. It has been linked to greater protection against infections, a lower risk of overweight and type 2 diabetes, protection from sudden infant death syndrome, and improved cognitive development.<\/p>\n
Now, to this long list of benefits, an international study led by the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC, Spain)<\/a> adds a new one: exclusive breastfeeding during the first month of life also acts as a protective shield against bacteria carrying antibiotic resistance genes\u2014one of the top ten global public health threats identified by the World Health Organization.<\/p>\n The researchers found that breast milk promotes the growth of Bifidobacterium<\/a> species in the baby\u2019s early gut microbiota. These beneficial bacteria are associated with fewer antimicrobial resistance genes and fewer harmful microorganisms. The study also revealed that exclusive breastfeeding at the beginning of life can offset the negative effects of being born by C-section<\/a> and of early antibiotic exposure.<\/p>\n \u201cOur findings provide scientific evidence of the importance of breastfeeding for both short- and long-term infant health,\u201d the authors write. They emphasize the need to encourage breastfeeding as a way to protect both mother and child\u2014and to help curb the spread of resistance genes across the population.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Offsetting the effects of cesarean delivery<\/p>\n Previous studies had already shown that factors such as cesarean birth, antibiotic exposure at birth, or the absence of breastfeeding can alter the establishment of the infant microbiota<\/a>, potentially increasing the risk of developing conditions such as allergies, asthma, or obesity.<\/p>\n In this new study, IATA-CSIC<\/a> researchers focused on how these factors affect the presence of microbial genes involved in antibiotic resistance. To do so, they analyzed fecal samples from 66 infants and their mothers participating in the MAMI cohort<\/a>\u2014a group followed from birth to age six to study how the infant microbiota develops over time.<\/p>\n