Boost Your Baby's Health with Lactoferrin – A Defense Weapon Moms Shouldn't Miss!

Lactoferrin is hailed as a health guardian, protecting your baby's body and preventing external threats. Wondering about the functions of lactoferrin and how to use it effectively and safely for your little one? This article covers everything you need to know, so don't miss out! 

What is Lactoferrin?

According to WebMD, a leading U.S. health news platform, Lactoferrin (also known as Bovine Lactoferrin, Human Lactoferrin,…) is a protein found in breast milk, animal milk (cow, sheep, goat,…), and other bodily fluids (saliva, tears, bile,…).

Lactoferrin is most abundant in a mother's first milk – the milk produced right after childbirth. Nowadays, Lactoferrin is often used in treating conditions like low iron levels during pregnancy and infections in preterm infants,…

Lactoferrin: A Health Booster

Amazing Benefits of Lactoferrin for Baby's Health

The immune system of newborns and young children is fragile, making them susceptible to attacks from viruses and bacteria. This explains why children often get sick, frequently suffering from respiratory and digestive-related illnesses. Therefore, supplementing Lactoferrin to boost immunity in children is extremely crucial. This active ingredient provides three outstanding functions for the child's immune system, such as:

• Antibacterial, Antimicrobial: Scientists state that Lactoferrin inhibits the growth of various bacteria (including both gram-negative and gram-positive). Due to its ability to bind and transport free iron to cells, it prevents the supply of iron to bacteria, hindering their growth.

• Antiviral: Lactoferrin plays a role in preventing viruses (adenovirus, enterovirus,…) from attaching and infiltrating cells by binding to glycosaminoglycans on the cell membrane.

• Immunity Boost for Baby: As Lactoferrin carries a positive charge, it binds to molecules with a negative charge on the cell surface, activating signals leading to immune responses.

In addition to these benefits, some studies indicate that Lactoferrin also has essential effects on a baby's development, such as:

• Stimulate the growth of bone-forming cells, preventing bone loss.
• Protect the stomach lining against the attack of Helicobacter pylori bacteria – the leading cause of gastric ulcers.

When to Supplement Lactoferrin for Children?

In the above section, mothers surely understand the crucial role of Lactoferrin in a child's health. So when should you supplement Lactoferrin for your child? The answer is that children need to enhance their immune system with Lactoferrin right from birth, especially from 6 to 36 months old.

By 3-4 years old, a child's immune system becomes mature and produces sufficient antibodies to fight against pathogens. When newborn, children receive 'passive antibodies' from breast milk, but the amount of these antibodies decreases gradually from the 6th month. Therefore, from 6 to 36 months is called the 'immune gap' period, and it's also the time when children need to supplement Lactoferrin for enhanced immunity.

For infants, it's best to breastfeed to provide Lactoferrin supplementation. As for children from 6 months old, mothers should consider using additional products to supply the necessary amount of Lactoferrin for the child's body.

Considerations when Using Lactoferrin for Your Baby

When using Lactoferrin for your baby, moms need to pay attention to the following to maximize effectiveness and ensure safety: 

• Use the correct dosage: According to recommendations, children should take Lactoferrin with a dosage of 100 – 250mg/day. Misuse or overdose of Lactoferrin can lead to side effects such as fatigue, constipation, loss of appetite, etc.
• Duration of use: Use Lactoferrin for about 1 year depending on the purpose and the child's health condition.
• Follow the instructions: Read the instructions accompanying the products carefully, and do not combine multiple products containing Lactoferrin on your own, as it may lead to overdose or side effects due to drug interactions. If using Lactoferrin-containing products with medication, consult a doctor.
• Choose a quality product: A reputable, high-quality product will ensure that Lactoferrin is extracted in its pure form, without adversely affecting the child's health.

Simple Ways to Supplement Lactoferrin for Your Baby

Lactoferrin also needs to be supplemented correctly to achieve the highest effectiveness and ensure safety, without harming the child's health. Here are 4 simple, easy-to-apply ways for moms to supplement enough Lactoferrin for their babies.

Breast milk is an abundant source of Lactoferrin

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusively breastfeeding for the first 6 months. Breast milk is the ideal combination of the best nutritional components for the baby's development, especially in early infancy.

Mother's colostrum is produced from the end of the 7th month and appears within 72 hours after birth. This type of milk contains a high level of Lactoferrin (6-10mg/ml) – the 'golden' immune-boosting substance, protecting the baby in the early years of life.

However, as mentioned earlier, the level of Lactoferrin in breast milk gradually decreases over time and is completely depleted by the age of 9 months. After this period, the baby's immature immune system is susceptible to virus and bacterial attacks, making the child prone to illness. Therefore, mothers should consider some other ways below to supplement additional Lactoferrin for their child. 

Use Lactoferrin supplements

Currently, there are many types of medicines and dietary supplements containing Lactoferrin on the market such as Pravotin, Lactoferrin Gold, Ironemic, Liquid Immune Plus with Lactoferrin (Brauer), Jarrow Formulas Lactoferrin, etc.

However, these products often combine various active ingredients and are indicated for specific cases. Mothers should only give their children medications or dietary supplements containing Lactoferrin after consulting with a doctor and getting a prescription.

Supplement Lactoferrin with colostrum

Mothers can supplement lactoferrin for their babies with various types of non-animal milks. These non-animal milks often contain nutritional components similar to mother's colostrum. Non-animal milks are usually processed from the colostrum of female cows through modern extraction technology. 

According to the advice of nutrition experts, mothers should use various non-animal milks for their babies in the following cases:

• When the baby is breastfeeding, but is weak, malnourished, or prone to illness.
• If the mother accidentally discards the first colostrum.
• When the mother wants to supplement to boost the baby's immunity after 6 months of age.

Some non-animal milk brands containing lactoferrin available on the market for mothers to consider are Colostrum milk from Germany, ILdong milk from South Korea, etc.

When using non-animal milk to supplement lactoferrin for the baby, mothers need to pay special attention to:

• Non-animal milk cannot completely replace breast milk and formula milk. This means that when supplementing lactoferrin for the baby with non-animal milk, the baby still needs to breastfeed or drink formula milk to provide sufficient nutrients.
• Check the ingredient list when choosing non-animal milk, ensuring the child is not allergic to any active ingredients. Additionally, mothers need to choose the right type of non-animal milk containing lactoferrin suitable for the baby's age.
• Combine non-animal milk with formula milk, fresh milk, or the baby's complementary foods.
• Mix non-animal milk in the correct dosage and manner according to the manufacturer's instructions. 40 degrees Celsius is the appropriate temperature to mix non-animal milk to ensure the milk retains its nutritional value. This type of milk dissolves more slowly in water, so mothers need to stir it well and stir it for a long time before giving it to the baby.

Effectively supplementing Lactoferrin for the baby using formula milk

Supplementing Lactoferrin for the baby with formula milk is a convenient, suitable option that mothers should choose. This method not only supplements Lactoferrin but also provides essential nutrients, helping the baby develop strong immunity, stay healthy, digest well, gain weight quickly, and develop comprehensively.

This type of milk is recommended by experts for children in certain cases:

• Mothers with low milk supply or lost milk due to reasons such as weak health, a history of chest surgery, etc.
• Mothers of twins or triplets unable to provide enough milk for all the babies.
• Mothers undergoing medication with a risk of affecting the baby and unable to breastfeed.
• Mothers busy with work or not regularly present with the child.
• Premature or sick babies needing more nutrition than usual.
• Babies breastfeeding but in a weak, malnourished condition or prone to illness.
• Mothers wanting to supplement to boost the baby's immunity after 6 months old,...

When supplementing Lactoferrin for the baby with formula milk, mothers need to note the following:

• Choose a reputable and quality formula suitable for the baby's age and condition: Mothers need to check whether the formula contains Lactoferrin, the amount, and other information (origin, genuine label, expiration date, etc.).
• Mix the formula according to the instructions: In the right proportion, ensuring the correct water quantity and temperature, avoiding heating the milk with a microwave.
• Do not mix or combine multiple types of formula milk: This can overload the baby's digestive system, leading to allergies and excess nutrients.

Nowadays, there are various brands of formula milk enriched with additional Lactoferrin for babies from different brands. Among them, Morinaga from Japan is the world's first formula milk brand with added Lactoferrin, preferred by many mothers. After more than 20 years of diligent research (1960-1986), Morinaga has introduced 3 formula milk lines containing Lactoferrin with a balanced nutritional composition suitable for each age group of babies:

• Morinaga Hagukumi No.1 for babies under 6 months old.
• Morinaga Chilmil No.2 for babies 6-36 months old.
• Morinaga Kodomil No.3 for children over 36 months old.

Appropriate milk intake according to the baby's age

Not only does Morinaga's formula supplement Lactoferrin to enhance immunity for babies, but it is also favored by thousands of Vietnamese mothers for its outstanding advantages:

• A refreshing formula, enriched with over 2.8 billion beneficial bacteria Bifidobacterium longum BB536/100g, prebiotics Bifidus (Lactose, Raffinose, Duphalac, GOS), Zinc, and B-group vitamins to help babies eat well, maintain a healthy digestive system, and absorb nutrients efficiently.
• Providing balanced nutrition suitable for the physique of Vietnamese children, while additionally fortified with AHA/ARA, DHA, Calcium, Vitamin D3 to support comprehensive brain and physical development.
• Morinaga formula has a taste similar to mother's milk, making it easy for babies to enjoy.
• A high-quality product from the Morinaga Industry Co., Ltd, produced and packaged entirely in Japan.

This article has provided mothers with useful information about Lactoferrin. We hope that mothers now have a clearer understanding of this active ingredient and know how to supplement it appropriately and effectively for their babies. If mothers have any remaining questions, connect directly with Morinaga's nutrition experts through the hotline 0916 434 429 for detailed and prompt assistance.

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