There is a compound found in human breast milk – called Glycerol Monolaurate (GML) – that fights the growth of infection-causing bacteria in infants. The quantity of GML in human breast milk is over 200 times greater than that in cows’ milk, while Infant formula has none. Therefore, researchers are now proposing for GML to be added to infant formula and cows’ milk given to small children.
Not only does GML fight harmful bacteria, but it promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria and inhibits inflammation in epithelial cells, which helps to prevent bacterial and viral infections of the gut.
Donald Leung, MD, Ph.D., senior author of the study and professor of pediatrics at National Jewish Health, said:
Our findings demonstrate that high levels of GML are unique to human breast milk and strongly inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
The researchers that identified this compound are from National Jewish Health and the University of Iowa. They say GML is cheap to manufacture, so enhancing formulas and cows’ milk with it is possible. The team has to do some more research to determine if doing so would be beneficial.
First author Patrick Schlievert, Ph.D., who is a University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine professor of microbiology & immunology, said:
While antibiotics can fight bacterial infections in infants, they kill the beneficial bacteria along with the pathogenic ones. GML is much more selective, fighting only the pathogenic bacteria while allowing beneficial species to thrive. We think GML holds great promise as a potential additive to cows’ milk and infant formula that could promote the health of babies around the world.
The Study Findings:
- The harmful bacteria that GML protects against are called Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Clostridium perfringens.
- Only human breast milk had any effect on those bacteria. Both infant formula and cow’s milk has none.
- When the researchers removed GML from human breast milk, it didn’t protect against Staphylococcus aureus anymore.
- Then, when they added GML to cow’s milk, it became antimicrobial.
- GML didn’t inhibit the growth of the beneficial bacteria Enterococcus faecilis.
- Breastfed babies were found to have high levels of beneficial lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, and enterococci bacteria.
- GML inhibits inflammation in epithelial cells, meaning it guards against damage that could lead to bacterial and viral infections.
The study has been published in the journal Scientific Reports. The team has applied for a patent to commercialize GML as an additive to infant formula and cow’s milk for young children.
