Affiliations: Division of Neonatology, University and Polytechnic
Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain | Neonatal Research Group, Health Research Institute La
Fe, Valencia, Spain
Note: [] Corresponding author: Maximo Vento MD PhD, Division of
Neonatology, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Bulevar Sur s/n, 46026
Valencia, Spain. Tel.: +34 96 1245688; Fax: +34 96 1245746; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Fetal to neonatal transition poses a relevant threat to the newly
born infant. In few minutes oxygen delivery to tissue will rise abruptly. In
addition, very often aggressive therapies which include the use of oxygen are
going to be necessary to assure survival of the neonate. Interestingly, the
antioxidant defense system maturation pattern is not complete until the end of
gestation and, therefore, preterm babies are endowed with an immature and less
effective antioxidant armamentarium. Under these circumstances preterm infants
are prone to oxidative stress derived serious conditions such as retinopathy of
prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia or intra-periventricular hemorrhage.
Remarkably, human milk even in preterm mothers provides with a vast array of
antioxidant substances that will undoubtedly help the infant to confront with a
pro-oxidant milieu. These antioxidant properties render human milk essential
for the survival of preterm infants and its use should be therefore strongly
reinforced.
Keywords: Human milk, prematurity, oxidative stress, antioxidant, lactation, nutrition
