In a breastfed infant, there is less chance of enteric infection is due to ____________
High-Yield Explanation
Lactoferrin present in breastmilk is less than 50% saturated with iron, which makes it unsuitable for the growth of enterobacteria. Breast milk especially colostrum has living phagocytic macrophages & lymphoid cells, which provide non-specific gastrointestinal host defenses and offer protection against diarrhea. Ref: Page 97; Ghai essential pediatrics; 6th edition