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Research

Allergen shedding in human milk: Could it be key for immune system education and allergy prevention?

In addition to being a source of nutrients for the developing newborn, human milk contains thousands of bioactive compounds, which influence infant health in the short-term as exemplified by its major benefits on infectious disease prevention. Many of the human milk compounds also have the required characteristics to instruct immune development and guide long-term health.

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The human milk microbiome is minimally associated with breastfeeding practices

The human milk microbiome is dominated by typical oral and skin bacteria, suggesting that bacterial communities from the infant mouth and maternal skin contribute to the development of the human milk microbiome. It is postulated that breastfeeding characteristics, such as breastfeeding frequency and duration, could lead to different levels of exposure to oral and skin bacteria, and subsequently, altered bacterial profiles in human milk.  

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Specific IgA, but Not IgG, in Human Milk from COVID-19-Infected Mothers Neutralizes SARS-CoV-2

This study highlights the importance of human milk in providing anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 immunity to newborns. The highest protective activity of human milk against COVID-19 was found in colostrum from infected mothers.

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Metagenomic Characterisation of the Gut Microbiome and Effect of Complementary Feeding on Bifidobacterium spp. in Australian Infants

Complementary feeding induces dramatic ecological shifts in the infant gut microbiota toward more diverse compositions and functional metabolic capacities, with potential implications for immune and metabolic health. The aim of this study was to examine whether the age at which solid foods are introduced differentially affects the microbiota in predominantly breastfed infants compared with predominantly formula-fed infants. 

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Food variety at 2 years of age is related to duration of breastfeeding

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of breastfeeding duration and food variety at 2 years of age.

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Mapping breastfeeding and COVID-19 related content and engagement on Facebook: Results from an online social listening study

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen evidence and advice evolve quickly. Since the start of the pandemic there has been confusion and concern about breastfeeding and COVID-19, and advice for this group has at times been contradictory. The volume of information on social media has exacerbated this. This study aimed to understand breastfeeding-related COVID-19 information sharing on social media during the global and Australian vaccine roll-out.

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Duration of breast-feeding and language ability to middle childhood

There is controversy over whether increased breast-feeding duration has long-term benefits for language development.

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The long-term effects of breastfeeding on child and adolescent mental health: A Pregnancy Cohort Study followed for 14 years

To determine whether there was an independent effect of breastfeeding on child and adolescent mental health

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EAACI food allergy and anaphylaxis guidelines: diagnosis and management of food allergy

Food allergy can have significant effects on morbidity and quality of life and can be costly in terms of medical visits and treatments.

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Early infant feeding and adiposity risk: from infancy to adulthood

In our study, we aimed to examine early infant feeding and adiposity risk in a longitudinal cohort from birth to young adulthood using new as well as...