A recent scientific study showed that one of the natural sugars found in breast milk may contribute to supporting the growth of newborns' intestines and enhancing their bodies' ability to eliminate bilirubin, the accumulation of which leads to jaundice.
Role of Sugar in Gut Maturation
The scientific platform 'Medical Xpress' reported on Tuesday that researchers from the University of California, San Diego, found that the sugar known as '3-sialyllactose' (3'SL) contributes to the maturation of cells lining the intestines and enhances the activity of an enzyme that helps the body process and eliminate bilirubin.
The study, published in the journal 'Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology', indicated that low levels of this sugar during the early stages of growth were associated with elevated bilirubin levels, reduced intestinal growth, and decreased activity of the 'UGT1A1' enzyme, responsible for converting bilirubin into a form easier for the body to eliminate.
Prevalence and Risks of Jaundice
The results showed that this sugar plays a role in the maturation of intestinal cells and the regulation of their functions, noting that disparities in the levels of natural sugars present in breast milk may be one of the factors associated with differences in the severity of jaundice among newborns.
The study noted that jaundice is a common condition among infants, affecting approximately 60 percent of full-term newborns and 80 percent of premature infants, appearing as yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes due to elevated bilirubin levels in the blood.
Future Research Prospects
The study warned that severe elevation or continued accumulation of this substance could lead to it reaching the brain and causing neurological complications, underscoring the importance of understanding the mechanisms that help newborn bodies eliminate it.
Researchers believe that understanding the role of bioactive sugars in breast milk may contribute in the future to developing nutritional means that support the growth of newborns' intestines and help understand factors influencing the occurrence of jaundice.
Such studies emphasize the importance of natural components in breast milk in supporting newborn growth and enhancing their bodily functions during the early stages of life.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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