Role of breast milk secretory immunoglobulin A in infants from 7-12 months of age with acute gastroenteritis

Objective:Acute gastroenteritis is particularly dangerous during the first year of life due to an increased risk of water and electrolyte loss, which can lead to moderate to severe dehydration. This risk is especially high in infants who are not exclusively breastfed or are fed formula or commercial cow’s milk. Human milk is not only a source of energy but also a complex, dynamic biological fluid with protective and immunomodulatory roles, serving as a bridge between the mother’s immune system and the infant. Secretory immunoglobulin A is the first line of defense of the intestinal epithelium against pathogenic microorganisms. The aim of this study was to determine whether secretory immunoglobulin A from breast milk has a protective effect on the intestinal epithelium and whether it influences the severity of clinical picture and the duration of symptoms of acute gastroenteritis, depending on the infant’s type of nutrition.Methods: A total of 35 infants with acute gastroenteritis were divided into two groups based on feeding patterns (type of milk and non-milk food). Indicators evaluated included symptom severity, the need for parenteral rehydration, and the degree of dehydration.Results: We found a statistically significant association between group affiliation and the sIgA test results between the first and second groups (P = 0.004933), as well as in the average value of sIgA in stool (P = 0.000788). Rotavirus was the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis.Conclusion: The presence of breast milk sIgA in infants appears to influence the severity of acute gastroenteritis by reducing vomiting frequency, the number and severity of diarrheal episodes, the risk of moderate and severe dehydration, and the incidence of feve