Human Milk in Infant Oral and Gut Health

Dear Colleagues,

Human milk is a complex biological fluid that plays a pivotal role in shaping early-life oral and gut ecosystems, with profound implications for microbiome development, immune programming, and long-term health trajectories. Beyond its nutritional function, human milk contains a rich repertoire of bioactive components that actively influence microbial colonization, host–microbiome interactions, and the establishment of immune tolerance. These early-life mechanisms are increasingly recognized as key biological pathways linking the oral–gut–systemic axis and as critical determinants of susceptibility to chronic inflammation and non-communicable systemic diseases across the life course.

This Special Issue aims to promote a mechanistic and clinically relevant understanding of how human milk and infant feeding practices influence oral and gut health, disease risk, and systemic outcomes. We particularly welcome contributions addressing the development of the oral and gut microbiome, immune–inflammatory pathways, the impact of breastfeeding on craniofacial growth and oral function, early-life exposures shaping metabolic and inflammatory trajectories, and translational implications for clinical practice and public health.

By integrating perspectives from dentistry, pediatric nutrition, microbiology, immunology, and clinical sciences, this Special Issue seeks to foster high-quality interdisciplinary research that supports evidence-based strategies to optimize infant health and prevent disease across the life course.

Dr. Vanessa Machado
Prof. Dr. Manuela Cardoso
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.