X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parenting & Play by Friso
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-schooler
    • Kids
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • Money Parenting
    • Tips for Parents
    • Tips for Toddlers
    • Tips for Older Kids
    • The 5 Personas
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Breast Milk Could Prevent COVID-19 Spread In Babies, New Research Finds

29 Sep, 2020
Breast Milk Could Prevent COVID-19 Spread In Babies, New Research FindsBreast Milk Could Prevent COVID-19 Spread In Babies, New Research Finds

It lends support to the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines whereby mothers who are infected with coronavirus are encouraged to continue breastfeeding their newborn babies.

A mother’s breast milk can help prevent or treat coronavirus in their babies, a new study by Chinese researchers has found.

Whey proteins from human breast milk can inhibit the coronavirus by “blocking viral attachment, entry and even post-entry viral replication”, according to the team led by Professor Tong Yigang from the Beijing University of Chemical Technology.

Breast Milk Could Prevent COVID-19 Spread

The results published on biorxiv.org, a preprint site for biology studies, on Friday were based on testing the effects of human breast milk on cells exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19.

The cell types tested varied from animal kidney cells to young human lung and gut cells. The paper, however, has yet to be peer-reviewed.

While researchers found that whey proteins in cow and goat milk could also inhibit the coronavirus, they were less effective (about 70 per cent) as compared to human breast milk (nearly 100 per cent). 

Breast Milk Could Prevent COVID-19 Spread In Babies, New Research Finds

Image source: iStock

Furthermore, while killing the virus, the team said that they did not find any sign of harm caused by human milk which “promoted cell proliferation”. 

Although some health authorities have warned that breastfeeding could increase the risk of viral transmission, this new research lends support to the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines whereby mothers who are infected with coronavirus or suspected to be infected, are encouraged to continue breastfeeding their newborn babies.

Such was the case of 46 COVID-19 infected mothers (over several countries) who breastfed their children.

No evidence of infection was found, even though WHO detected viral genes in the breast milk of three mothers. And among the children, only one child had tested positive for the virus.

This leaves the global health body unable to rule out the possibility wherein the virus could have been transmitted through other ways.

While breast milk has been known to have suppressive effects on bacteria and viruses such as HIV, and now preventing coronavirus according to the Chinese researchers, results of increasing temperatures of the milk could show otherwise. 

Breast Milk Could Prevent COVID-19 Spread In Babies, New Research Finds

Image source: iStock

In the case of parents who take towards donated breast milk to feed their babies, the milk is often pasteurised (having to undergo heat treatment) in order to eliminate potential contamination and make it safe for consumption.

Doing so, however, could lead to reduced protection against the coronavirus said the researchers. 

Upon heating the milk to 90 degrees for 10 minutes, they found that the whey protein was inactivated, leading to a 20 per cent drop in protection rate against the coronavirus. 

ALSO READ:

Coronavirus Antibodies Found in Breast Milk of 80% of COVID-19 Survivors: Research

Malaysian Mums In Singapore Send Around 3,000kg of Breast Milk To Babies Back Home Amid MCO

M’sian Parents in S’pore Reunite With Children After 6 Months of Lockdown

https://t.me/theAsianparentSG

Partner Stories
Singapore's Dengue Cases Surpass The 35,000 Mark, Highest Since 2013
Singapore's Dengue Cases Surpass The 35,000 Mark, Highest Since 2013
Typhoon Haiyan relief effort
Typhoon Haiyan relief effort
What parents can learn from the Boston bombings
What parents can learn from the Boston bombings
The brainy bunch - 6 siblings begin college by age 12!
The brainy bunch - 6 siblings begin college by age 12!

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Jia Ling

  • Home
  • /
  • News
  • /
  • Breast Milk Could Prevent COVID-19 Spread In Babies, New Research Finds
Share:
  • Coronavirus Antibodies Found in Breast Milk of 80% of COVID-19 Survivors: Research

    Coronavirus Antibodies Found in Breast Milk of 80% of COVID-19 Survivors: Research

  • Is breast milk still the best?

    Is breast milk still the best?

  • Uh-Oh! Hong Kong Couple Forks Out $5,900 After Son Knocks Down Teletubbies Statue

    Uh-Oh! Hong Kong Couple Forks Out $5,900 After Son Knocks Down Teletubbies Statue

  • 5 Ways A Narcissistic Parent Can Negatively Affect A Child's Personality

    5 Ways A Narcissistic Parent Can Negatively Affect A Child's Personality

app info
get app banner
  • Coronavirus Antibodies Found in Breast Milk of 80% of COVID-19 Survivors: Research

    Coronavirus Antibodies Found in Breast Milk of 80% of COVID-19 Survivors: Research

  • Is breast milk still the best?

    Is breast milk still the best?

  • Uh-Oh! Hong Kong Couple Forks Out $5,900 After Son Knocks Down Teletubbies Statue

    Uh-Oh! Hong Kong Couple Forks Out $5,900 After Son Knocks Down Teletubbies Statue

  • 5 Ways A Narcissistic Parent Can Negatively Affect A Child's Personality

    5 Ways A Narcissistic Parent Can Negatively Affect A Child's Personality

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2022. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and lifestyle updates.