We're always amazed by the power of breast milk, but did you know the nutritional quality can change with the season and the environment?

 

study of breastfeeding mothers and infants in Gambia has revealed that changes in breast milk throughout the season can affect the gut health of the infants.

 

They found mothers nursing in the wet season, when food is limited, had less human milk oligosaccharides (HMO's) than those nursing in the dry season. 

 

 

HMO's are the complex sugars contained in breast milk, which affect an infant's gut health. 

 

Babies nursing in the wet season experienced more illnesses because of a decrease in HMO's. 

 

For instance, diarrhoea was much more common in the wet season. 

 

 

A combination of less food, higher farming workloads, and higher infection rates is responsible for the decrease in HMO's in the wet season. 

 

It's really interesting to consider how many factors can affect breastfeeding and the outcomes for a baby.

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