A longitudinal study of salivary sialic acid in preterm infants: Comparison of human milk-fed versus formula-fed infants.

摘要

We found that the saliva of preterm infants fed human milk contains twice the level of sialic acid as that in infants fed commercial formulas. The higher sialic acid level suggests greater viscosity and enhanced protection of the mucosal surfaces in breast-fed infants. Human milk itself is a rich source of sialylated oligosaccharides.