Description

The thoughtful significance of human milk in optimizing neonatal health and improving child survival is becoming more alarming worldwide, as it is the one and only foundation of nutrition for the first six months of life, therefore upholding and defending the nutrient quality of human milk are of great public health concern.

Diet is an important factor for the nourishment of the body. It has been considered as a vital element due to its crucial role in sustaining life. The qualitative and quantitative nutritional status of any individual plays an important role in maintaining health and vitality. Healthy or diseased status is determined by the wholesome or unwholesome diet respectively.

Nutritional status is of great importance from the commencement of life itself. The nutritional status of any individual in the initial phase of life determines the proneness towards disease and health, as it has been found that infants receiving formula feed are more likely to be overweight than those who are exclusively breastfed. Therefore, special care of the mother's diet is taken during pregnancy because fetal growth and development are totally dependent on the nutritional status of the mother. After birth, the infant requires maternal milk, and the nutrient status of maternal milk is dependent on the mother's diet. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months due to its immunological, neurological, gastrointestinal function, and developmental (physical and psychological) effects on infants, as well as its ability to reduce the risk of communicable diseases, morbidity, and mortality.

Breast milk serves as an excellent source of nutrition for infants, as it contains essential nutrients in the correct balance, along with various bioactive factors (e.g., antibodies, hormones, bioactive molecules, and stem cells). It is well-documented that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life is associated with a decreased prevalence of infections and persistent diseases.