Influence of the diet of mexican women on the nutritional quality and the presence of beneficial microorganisms in human milk

Abstract

Introduction: breast milk is the first fundamental food of newborns and it provides all the sources of energy, nutrients and the immunological protection they need during their first months of life. Unfortunately, there are specific circumstances that imply that the mother cannot feed her baby correctly, since the mother’s nutritional needs differ to a certain extent during different periods of life. Especially in breastfeeding, since nutritional needs are increased, due to the loss of nutrients, first by colostrum and then by breast milk. Objective: to demonstrate the influence of the diet of Mexican women on the nutritional quality and the presence of beneficial microorganisms in human milk. Methods: seventy descriptive surveys of nutrition and sampling of milk to women in nursing state were carried out. The milks were subjected to various bromatological and microbiological analyzes to evaluate their nutritional quality and possible probiotic activity. Results: it was shown that the mother’s food intake influences the nutritional quality of the milk. Likewise, it affects the development and growth of lactic acid bacteria. Several strains were isolated and identified in human milk of the genus Lactobacillus, as well as pathogenic bacteria such as Lodderomyces elongisporus among others. Conclusions: the mothers’ nutrition is directly reflected in the nutritional quality of the milk. It was observed that the amount of essential nutrients of milk such as carbohydrates, lipids and proteins vary according to the diet and life rhythm of the mothers, as well as the significant decrease of lactic bacteria with probiotic potential.