Regulatory T cells expand in the first three weeks of life in breastfed babies, and are twice as abundant than in bottle-fed babies. Specifically, the bacterias Veillonella and Gemella are more abundant in the guts of breastfed babies. Veillonella and Gemella support the function of regulatory T cells.
Research led by the University of Birmingham and Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust has revealed new insight into the biological mechanisms of the long-term positive health effects of breastfeeding in preventing disorders of the immune system in later life.
