In France, human milk is given to around 60% of neonates from birth including maternal milk (for breastfed neonates) and donor milk from human milk banks. This rate continues to increase with the current public health promotion of breastfeeding. Human milk is given as a golden standard by neonatologists, recommended for term as well as for preterm babies (with optional protein and mineral fortification). It is also a reference for industrial producers of infant formula who try to match its nutritional composition.

The nutritional composition of human milk is complex and not well known (except for the macronutrients). The epidemiological studies have proven some benefits of human milk on growth and health of neonates (i.e. decreasing lower and upper respiratory infections); however other benefits remain controversial and continue to be discussed by scientists (i.e. improvement of Developmental Quotient at age 2 yrs, reduction in diabetes and obesity in adulthood...). Trying to determine a scientific link between some of these findings and the micronutrient composition is challenging - this symposium will provide an opportunity to present an update on progress.

The Research Unit PHAN (Physiology of Nutritional Adaptations) is focusing its research interests on neonatal nutrition and the interest in human milk as a biological material is increasing. This symposium will be an occasion for us to present to the scientific community - national and international - the research projects and the experimental and the clinical studies that we lead in the PHAN Unit as well as in Nantes University. We are continuing the achievements of 2009 and the successful symposium Perinatal nutrition and nutritional imprinting that the PHAN Unit organized last year.