The Role of Donor Milk and Human Milk Banks in Promoting Maternal and Infant Health

Dear Colleagues,

Given the evidence accumulating in recent decades underpinning its clinical benefits, human milk (HM) is indisputably the gold standard for feeding all neonates. Its unique macronutrient composition with optimal bioavailability, and the myriad bioactives exerting health promotion throughout life, make it particularly vital for preterm infants. Very preterm infants are exposed to specific challenges in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) with high mortality and/or morbidity rates. HM feeding has been found (i) to have a protective effect against most of these challenges, such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and bacterial sepsis; (ii) to decrease mortality; and (iii) to improve both neurocognitive development and surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease. New neuroimaging studies searching for the impact of HM on brain volumes, structures, and the connectome reveal exciting dose-dependent improvements with HM use.

The current Special Issue aims to welcome original works and literature reviews further exploring the complexity of human milk composition and the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects associated with breastfeeding, inviting all to explore “The amazing world of Human Milk Banking”.

Prof. Dr. Guido E. Moro
Prof. Dr. Enrico Bertino
Prof. Dr. Alessandra Coscia
Guest Editors

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