Investigation of bacteria present in human breast milk
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation of bacteria present in human breast milk and their relationship with intestinal microbiota of baby
IRAS ID
159225
Contact name
Azra Pachenari
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Middlesex University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Human breast milk has traditionally been considered sterile. However recent studies suggest that human milk is not only a source of nutrients and immunological compounds but it also provides the infants with a supply of beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria. It is suggested that these bacteria reach the mammary glands through maternal dendritic cells and macrophages. This encourages early establishment of beneficial bacteria in infant’s gut and protects infants from pathogenic bacteria while the immune system has not reached maturity. Moreover exposure to this group of microorganisms boost maturation of immune system and reduces the likelihood of disorders such as allergy, diabetes, and obesity in adulthood.
Breast feeding mothers with young babies will be approached in maternity ward in Royal free hospital and asked to provide 10 ml of expressed breast milk and nappy faecal samples from their babies. Also mothers who are bottle feeding their babies will be approached and asked for nappy faecal samples from their babies . This will repeat in three different occasions. In return a small gratuity of £10 (only faecal samples) and £20 (milk and faecal samples))will be given to them.
It is proposed to recruit 25 babies in each group (breast-fed and bottle-fed) as well as 25 breast feeding mothers (of the above breast-fed babies).
If there was donated breast milks in the ward a 10 ml sample of those will also be requested in 3 occasions.
The collected samples will be processed using microbiological methods, molecular biology, and MALDI-TOF to enable comparison between 3 different methodologies.
REC name
London - South East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0203
Date of REC Opinion
5 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion