contribute immunity in two ways: (a) They engulf and digest bacteria. (b) These cells synthesize complement, a protein involved in establishing immunity to infectious organism. UNIT. - - Nutrition in pregnancy, lactation and infancy ii.
Lymphocytes Lymphocytes are the white blood cells responsible for mediating most aspects of the immune system, with its ability to attack a wide range of infectious microorganisms. Human milk contains T and B lymphocytes. iii. Immunoglobulins Immunoglobulin are the difference in proteins that include all types of antibodies.
Immunoglobulin are resistant to the acidity for the stomach. iv. Lactoferrin and Vitamin B12 binding protein Lactoferrin is an iron containing protein found both in colostrum and mature milk. It’s in which the growth of staphylococcus organism and E coli by tying iron that is needed for growth.
Similarly vitamin B12 binding protein present in breast milk makes vitamin B12 unavailable to pathogens that require B12 to survive in the infant’s gastrointestinal track. v. Lactobacillus bifidus factor It is a nitrogen containing carbohydrate in human milk. It encourages the growth of microorganism, lactobacillus bifidus and produces acetic acid or lactic acid from lactose and depresses the growth of pathogenic or disease producing organism like Escherichia coli.
vi. Enzymes Breast milk supplies enzymes like amylase, lipoprotein, lipase, bile salt, stimulated lipases, oxidases, lacto peroxidase, and leucocyte myeloperioxidase. These enzymes increase digestibility and also act as defence against microbes. Enzymes like lysozyme, peroxidase and xanthine oxidase promote cell maturation.
d) Psychological benefits An infant derives a sense of security and belonging in the mother and child relationship from the comfort of being held than from feeding process. Table . Calorie percentage from protein, fat and carbohydrate in human and cow’s milk. Nutrient Breast milk Cow’s milk Total energy (per ml) Protein Fat Carbohydrate Source: Gopalan C., B.V Ramasastri and S.C Balasubramanian ( ), Nutritive value of Indian foods, NIN, ICMR, Hyderabad, India.
. . Breast feeding during illness • Breast Feeding is to be done during illness because - • Breast milk is the most easily digestible food