Nutritional problems in newborns

The mistakes associated with feeding newborns and based on the theory of balanced nutrition are striking. As is known, in higher organisms, including humans, food is digested by cavity and membrane digestion. However, during the period of milk feeding in humans and immature mammals, cavity digestion is poorly developed, and membrane digestion is dominant. In the very first days after birth, intracellular digestion of the endocytic type and vesicular transport through the enterocyte without splitting polymers play an extremely important role. Apparently, the mechanisms that ensure membrane digestion have already been formed by the end of the embryonic period. On the contrary, cavity digestion develops during the transition from milk feeding to mixed feeding. In this case, a change in the enzyme spectrum of the intestinal cell membrane occurs, including the repression of lactase synthesis.

Until now, the replacement of human milk with various products prepared on the basis of cow's milk has been widely used. From the point of view of the theory of balanced nutrition, the imitation of human milk based on cow's milk is an excellent substitute. Small differences in the chemical composition are of no importance. However, there is evidence that such a replacement is inadequate. From the standpoint of the theory of adequate nutrition, the replacement of human milk in the first months of a child's life is unsatisfactory, and in the first days it is extremely dangerous. This is due to the fact that, as noted, immediately after birth, intensive endocytosis dominates, which ensures the absorption of macromolecules by intestinal cells and the entry of maternal milk proteins into the newborn's body (and when using substitutes - the delivery of foreign antigens into the internal environment of the body). This mechanism consists of the capture of molecules of different types by receptors on the surface of intestinal cells, their rapid concentration in the area of the so-called bordered pits and immersion in the cytoplasm in the form of vesicles. This mechanism normally provides a variety of effects, including the flow of immunoglobulins from the mother's body to the child's body. However, if the mother's milk is replaced by the milk of a representative of a mammal of another species, then foreign antigens will enter the internal environment of the body with the help of endocytosis. A few days after birth, endocytosis practically ceases. At this age, with milk feeding, a picture arises that indicates sharp differences between mother's and cow's milk for other reasons.

As is known, the lactose content in mother's milk is significantly higher than in cow's milk. During normal feeding of a child, only part of the lactose is absorbed in the small intestine, and the other part reaches the large intestine, providing a slightly acidic environment favorable for the development of lactic acid and other beneficial bacteria. When using cow's milk, lactose does not reach the large intestine, and in the cavity of the latter, instead of lactic acid fermentation, putrefactive processes may prevail, which leads to constant intoxication of the child's body. The formation of toxic products against the background of weakness of the intestinal and liver barriers leads to disruption of both the physical and intellectual development of the child, which can affect not only in childhood, but also in later periods of life. In recent years, successful attempts have been made to optimize ("humanize") milk formulas by adding lactose in order to restore lactic acid fermentation in the large intestine and suppress putrefactive processes. In all circumstances, the example of the effect of cow's milk on the development of a newborn child demonstrates how significant the consequences of human intervention in the chemistry of one's own body and, in particular, in the natural process of assimilation of food can be. Thus, it has been demonstrated that an anaphylactic reaction can be observed in infants upon the first consumption of cow's milk. In general, up to 7.5% of children suffer from an allergy to cow's milk.

Apparently, in children in the early period of development there are two types of food allergies that differ in mechanisms:

1. IgE-type allergy in response to small amounts of antigens in milk;
2. allergy in response to artificial feeding.

Deficiency of IgE antibodies in breast milk is a risk factor for the development of food allergies in children.

It is alarming to note that human milk does not provide sufficient calcium, phosphorus, sodium and protein for the needs of premature infants, for whom fortified human milk is recommended.

It should be noted that special protein hydrolysates are recommended for children suffering from food allergies. Their characteristics and use in therapeutic nutrition of children are presented in a number of modern reviews.

Thus, one of the global challenges of our time is the development of breast milk imitators that do not have negative consequences after their use.

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