Abstract
Probiotics and biotherapeutic agents are recently subject to intensive medical research. Intestinal colonization immediately afterbirths is crucial for composition of intestinal microflora.
Vagina, intestine of the mother and hospital environment are usually considered as sources of bacteria for the newborn. Recently, bacteria present in mother's breast milk are considered.
At the beginning of 21st century, first scientific papers appeared dealing with possible probiotic potential of bacteria isolated from human breast milk. Generally, mostly staphylococci, streptococci, lactococci, enterococci, laktobacilli and bifidobacteria are described in human breast milk.
Some of these species may have probiotic properties. Presence of these bacteria in breast milk is an important subject of further research, however data collected to date are very sporadic and do not justify some statements on synbiotic character of human breast milk and on clinical benefit of these strains for human health in amounts that they are present in the breast milk.
Uncertain is also the origin of these strains and their role in colonization of the newborn and in the composition of its intestinal microflora. Human breast milk is the golden standard for infant's nutrition and for development of infant's formulae, thus it is necessary in future to elucidate the role of bacteria present in human breast milk and their relationship to prebiotic oligosaccharides.