What is necrotizing enterocolitis and what role does human milk play in this disease?
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the most serious morbidities in preterm infants (PTNB). It is an inflammatory disease of the bowel that can cause perforation of the gut and peritonitis. Its underlying cause would be multifactorial. Some theories blame intestinal mucosal injury, inflammation and the presence of abnormal gut colonization.
Feeding PTNBs with human milk (HM) seems to have a preponderant role in the reduction of NEC, even if the supply of HM is partial.