Enhanced Protection Against Diarrhea Among Breastfed Infants of Nonsecretor Mothers
Dhasni Muthumuni, Kozeta Miliku, Kaitlin H. Wade, Nicholas J. Timpson, Meghan B. Azad
Abstract
Diarrhea is a major cause of infant mortality. Being a "nonsecretor" (having an inactive fucosyltransferase-2 gene) protects against diarrhea by inhibiting enteric infections. Breastfeeding also protects against diarrhea; however, the impact of maternal secretor status is unknown. In the ALSPAC cohort (N = 4971), we found that breastfeeding by nonsecretor mothers was especially protective against diarrhea, which could inform new prevention strategies.
Topics & Concepts
DiarrheaBreastfeedingMedicineAcute diarrheaLongitudinal studyCohortPediatricsCohort studyInternal medicinePathologyInfant Nutrition and HealthBreastfeeding Practices and InfluencesChild Nutrition and Water Access