Breast Milk Nutrients in Tobacco Plant: It is advisable to breastfeed the child for 6 months after birth. Breast milk is considered to be like nectar for children. However, many women are unable to produce sufficient breast milk and are forced to feed infant formula to their children. There is good news for women who feed formula to their children. Scientists have claimed to get the nutrients found in breast milk from a plant of the tobacco species by genetically modifying it. This will help children get nutrients like breast milk in formula as well.
TOI’s Report According to the report, researchers at the University of California, USA, have genetically modified the tobacco plant to produce nutrients found in breast milk. These nutrients can prove to be extremely beneficial for the health of children. This research has raised hopes that infant formula can be made like breast milk with these nutrients. This will help children get nutrients like mother’s milk even without breast milk and their health will improve. Some elements found in breast milk are considered essential for the immune system of children.
The author of this research, Dr. Patrick Shih and his research team first genetically modified a plant called Nicotiana benthamiana and then produced human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) from it. Human milk oligosaccharides are complex sugars found in breast milk that are known for their role in promoting healthy gut bacteria and supporting the immune system in infants. These sugars are the third solid component found in abundance in breast milk, which protects children from infections and helps in improving health.
Dr. Patrick Shih, the main researcher of the research, says that they are trying to produce all the necessary HMOs through this plant, so that it can be directly ground and mixed in the infant formula. Natural breast milk contains about 200 HMOs, which improve the health of babies. Whereas most of the currently available formulas contain very little or no HMOs. This directly affects the health of children. Researchers hope that in the future, many types of HMOs can be obtained from genetically modified plants, which will prove beneficial for children.
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Tags: health, Lifestyle, Trending news
FIRST PUBLISHED : June 18, 2024, 15:59 IST