Stem Cells in Breastmilk
Australian Scientist Presents New Findings about Human Milk
In addition to its many other benefits, new research shows that breastmilk contains stem cells. This finding may offer an ethical alternative to embryonic stem cells.
Dr. Mark Cregan, the molecular biologist who founded the Lactation Biology Laboratory at the University of Western Australia in Perth – one of Australia's premier research institutions – has made this landmark discovery. Furthermore, he believes that within the next few years these breastmilk stem cells will be harvested in an effort to find a cure for Parkinson's disease, diabetes, and a host of other conditions.
Dr. Cregan is a member of the Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting outstanding research in the field of human milk and lactation. Membership is limited to those investigators who possess a doctoral degree or equivalent experience and who have been published at least twice in peer-reviewed journals in the field of lactation. He presented his findings at their 14th International Conference held in Perth from January 31-Feb. 5, 2008.
New Benefit of Breastmilk
Catherine Madden, who first reported this information on ScienceAlert, an Australian news source, says that the most exciting factor in this discovery for Dr. Cregan is the fact that his discovery is just opening the door for further exploration of breastmilk's power. He says that scientists already know how breast milk provides for the baby’s nutritional needs, but they are only just beginning to understand that it probably also performs many other functions. In fact, Dr. Cregan believes that the mother's breasts provide for the newborn in the same way that the placenta provided for the preborn baby. He believes that the mothers' milk helps ensure that a baby fulfills his genetic destiny.
Dr. Cregan has been researching the cellular composition of breastmilk as it relates to milk synthesis, milk removal and potential breastfeeding problems. He has also been investigating the possibility of using breastmilk in breast cancer research. His cutting edge research, motivated by an ongoing interest in infant health, has led him to find within breastmilk specific cells which test positive for the stem cell marker nestin. As he continued this line of research, he found that some of the cells in breastmilk actually have the ability to become multiple cell types.
Further Research Needed
Dr. Cregan says that further research is needed. At this point, researchers have demonstrated that these cells have all the physical characteristics of stem cells. What they will do next is to see if they behave like stem cells. Certainly those who are morally opposed to the harvesting of fetal stem cells will be relieved to have an ethically acceptable and readily available source of stem cells.
This finding could revolutionize the future of cell replacement therapies. Certainly it highlights again the incredible gap between artificial infant formula and human milk. In the words of Dr. Cregan, “We know now that they (breast milk and formula) are quite different and a lot of the effects of breast milk versus formula don’t become apparent for decades. Formula companies have focused on matching breast milk’s nutritional qualities but formula can never provide the developmental guidance.”
