Breast Milk HIV

Breast Milk HIV - Breast milk may help infants resist HIV infection, research suggests.

The findings mean certain compounds in breast milk could one day help combat the virus responsible for AIDS.

Tests on mice infected with HIV showed that even though some of their offspring acquired the virus from breastfeeding, the mother’s milk also had a strong anti-viral effect.

Most of the at-risk breastfed infants in this study did not end up with HIV despite long and repeated exposure.

Lead author Dr Angela Wahl, from the University of North Carolina said: 'These results are highly significant because they show that breast milk can completely block oral transmisision of both forms of HIV that are found in the breast milk of HIV- infected mothers: virus particles and virus-infected cells.

'This refutes the 'Trojan horse' hypothesis which says that HIV in cells is more stubborn against the body's own innate defenses than HIV in virus particles.'

Co-author Dr Victor Garcia, said: 'This study provides significant insight into the amazing ability of breast milk to destroy HIV and prevent its transmission.

'No child should ever be infected with HIV because it is breastfed. Breastfeeding provides critical nutrition and protection from other infections, especially where clean water for infant formula is scarce.

'Understanding how HIV is transmitted to infants and children despite the protective effects of milk will help us close this important door to the spread of Aids.'

The World Health Organization guidelines recommend mothers, even those infected with HIV to breastfeed infants for the first 12 months. However HIV-infected mothers and their chilren should be put on a course of antiretroviral medications to reduce chances of transmission.

Scientists carried out the study using genetically modified 'humanised' mice that can acquire HIV in the same way as humans.

The findings are published in the online journal Public Library of Science Pathogens. Breast milk blocks HIV transmission in mice, study finds, Over 33 Million People Worldwide Living With HIV/AIDS,

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2159662/Breast-milk-protect-catching-HIV.html#ixzz1zTjI0N9M