Breast is even better...

Up to 21% of breastmilk is actually all about the germs?

It's long been thought that a large component of breastmilk - around 21% - had no real value as it was made up of complex sugars which can't be broken down or used by the human stomach.  This indigestible element seemed to be wasted effort on behalf of the mother, which makes no evolutionary sense as the maternal effort needed to make breastmilk is very significant.  So what's it all about?

A group of researchers at the University of California think that they have solved this question - and in the process given us a hugely important insight into the way that breastmilk helps to protect babies from the harmful bacteria and viruses that they come into contact with every day - and in turn why formula fed infants are more prone to illness.

This special component of breastmilk attracts viruses and bacteria which would instead attack the intestines of the infant.  The nasties are then harmlessly flushed out of the baby in their faeces. 

The researchers are trying to work out the components in breastmilk which could be used in other areas of healthcare, such as in the elderly - and they're even looking at how proteins in breastmilk can attack tumour cells!

More information from The New York Times Science Pages