A recent study has shown that, in addition to the above-listed nutrients, breast milk also contains pluripotent stem cells.
All humans, whether infant or adult, have some stem cells which can be used for general tissue repair. But only infants have pluripotent stem cells, which are capable of developing into any of the 200 cells found in the human body. Adult stem cells are known as multipotent and can only be used in a limited capacity.
That a developing child's store of stem cells is fortified by additional stem cells from their mother's milk supply is exciting news for those who study early childhood development as well as those researching the use of stem cells for regenerative medicines to treat spinal cord injuries and diseases such as Parkinson's and Type 1 diabetes.
The presence of pluripotent stem cells in breast milk was first confirmed by researchers in India in 2010. Last year scientists were first able to non-invasively collect these stem cells from lactating breasts.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy and lactation in a woman's body activate these stem cells within her breasts. Different areas of the breast release different sorts of pluripotent stem cells which transcript different genes (OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, SSEA4, & three transcription factors (TFs)).
Another reason why breast is best.