Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-vfjqv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T09:49:48.008Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Does breastfeeding beyond one year benefit children?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2000

Rachel Elsom
Affiliation:
Department of Child Health, University of Glasgow, Glasgow
Lawrence Weaver
Affiliation:
Department of Child Health, University of Glasgow, Glasgow

Abstract

Human milk contains a unique mixture of nutrients that meet all the nutritional requirements of the growing infant for the first few months of life. Furthermore, it provides bioactive, non-nutritional substances including anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory factors, growth factors, cytokines, hormones and digestive enzymes which confer protection from bacterial and viral infections, and may aid growth and development of the newborn.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1999 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)