A new study by researchers from the National Institute of Women’s Health, Children and Adolescents Fernandes Figueira (IFF/Fiocruz) analyzed the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding in strengthening babies immunity against Covid-19. The research, which involved vaccinated women against the SARS-COV-2 virus, proved that human milk contains significant levels of neutralizing antibodies.
Mothers vaccinated against Covid-19 who exclusively breastfeed their babies transfer higher levels of neutralizing antibodies to human milk, helping to protect their children from SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Exclusive breastfeeding occurs when babies are fed only with breast milk, without the need for juices, teas, water and other liquid or solid foods.
“The results represent an important advance in the understanding of passive immunity transferred through breastfeeding and reinforce the recommendation of this practice exclusively in the first six months of life,” says the pediatrician and research leader, Maria Elisabeth Moreira.
Results
The study analyzed the sample of women vaccinated with two or more doses of different technologies of covid-19 vaccines. The work revealed that mothers who breastfeed exclusively had 22.6% of neutralizing antibodies in milk, compared to 16.1% of those who do not breastfeed exclusively. The discovery is significant because, in Brazil, vaccination of infants under six months is not yet available, which makes breastfeeding an essential tool for the protection of children.
“Neutralizing antibodies present in human milk are a natural and effective defense against the virus, and exclusive breastfeeding enhances this protection. With the continuous evolution of pandemic, it is essential that mothers follow breastfeeding guidelines to ensure the safety of babies, ”says Elisabeth Moreira.
Researchers point out that vaccine technology (MRNA, inactivated virus or non-replicating viral vector) did not influence the amount of neutralizing antibodies present in human milk, indicating that, regardless of the type of vaccine received, breastfeeding is still an essential practice to protect babies against Covid-19.
Also participating in the study were the researchers from IFF/Fiocruz, Yasmin Amaral, Antonio Egidio Nardi, Daniele Marano and Ana Carolina da Costa.
The expansion of exclusive breastfeeding is an important goal for public health. The goal of the Ministry of Health is that by 2030, 70% of babies up to 6 months of age receive this type of nutrition.
This content was originally published in vaccinated COVID-19 mothers protect babies with exclusive breastfeeding on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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