Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Breast Milk

Breast milk is the natural source of infant nutrition produced by the mammary glands, uniquely suited to a baby's needs and rich in nutrients and immune factors that support growth, development, and protection against infection. Breast milk supplies a balanced and changing mix of macronutrients, antibodies, and bioa…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 12 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 122× across the literature 🗓 Reviewed July 2026

Overview

Breast milk is the natural source of infant nutrition produced by the mammary glands, uniquely suited to a baby's needs and rich in nutrients and immune factors that support growth, development, and protection against infection. Breast milk supplies a balanced and changing mix of macronutrients, antibodies, and bioactive components that help establish infant immunity, support healthy development, and confer benefits for both infant and mother. Beyond its nutritional role, lactation and breast biology are relevant to women's health, including breast tissue function and long-term maternal outcomes. Research on breast milk addresses its composition, the factors shaping its production and quality, storage and handling, and the practices and determinants of breastfeeding. Studies collected here reflect these themes, including awareness of breast milk composition, examination of maternal assets and breast milk expression, and a home-based program to promote perceived adequate milk. Additional work investigates breastfeeding and melatonin in relation to perinatal health, the effect of storage containers on the macronutrient integrity of expressed milk, the influence of religion on lactating mothers' knowledge and infant-feeding practices, complementary feeding practices, and the beliefs and determinants surrounding exclusive breastfeeding in different populations. Related research linking epigenetics and nutrition connects early-life feeding to development and disease risk, situating breast milk within research spanning infant nutrition, lactation, and maternal and women's health.

Research published in this journal

12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

2019

Examination of Maternal Assets and Breast Milk Expression

K. Bai YeonCorresponding author
Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey 07043
Exact topic Breastfeeding Biology Cited by 1 doi:10.14302/issn.2644-0105.jbfb-19-2752
2015

Epigenetics and Nutrition

Lundstrom KennethCorresponding author
PanTherapeuitcs, Rue des Remparts 4, CH1095 Lutry, Switzerland
Exact topic International Journal of Nutrition Cited by 2 doi:10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-14-603

How this research is being cited

The 12 articles above have been cited 122 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Breast Milk, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Breast Cancer Survival.

Journal editorial board
Mark LaBarge · United States Raffaele Serra · Italy Jayant Vaidya · United Kingdom

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.