Report of Epidemiology Workshop: Recommendations Regarding Future Research Concerning the Effects of Human Milk Upon Infant Recipients

Investigations on the potential mechanisms of protection offered by breast feeding against infections and other diseases are sufficiently advanced to raise many questions concerning the in vivo advantages of banked and fresh human milk, components of human milk, and other factors related to breast feeding in populations living in different environments. Inasmuch as in vitro studies and studies in clinical settings cannot provide definitive answers to the following questions, epidemiological studies could contribute both scientific and public health insights to research.