"It is a very dangerous platform to build breastfeeding as a cure-all."

I think we need to tell the drug and infant formula industries that
breastmilk is not a cure-all. These industries are furiously patenting
components of human milk for use in fighting various diseases including
hiv/aids.  What irony!  The infant formula and pharmaceutical industries
believe so strongly in human milk and its benefits that they will patent its
components for use in drugs and for improving infant formula.(600 + patents
on human milk components) While breastfeeding advocates will suggest that
breastfeeding is not a cure-all. Kinda funny in a Catch-22 sort of way.  One
of the newer patents on human milk components is patent # 6277817 called
Human Lactoferrin.
Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

Patent # 6277817
"Lactoferrin can be useful in the treatment and prevention of opportunistic
bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. Opportunistic infections are caused
by normally non-pathogenic organisms in patients whose host defense
mechanisms have been compromised. By sequestering iron, lactoferrin inhibits
the growth of these organisms, making them more susceptible to antibiotic
therapy. Depending on the type of infection involved, treatment can involve
one or more types of systemic (oral, nasal, intravenous, etc.) or topical
administration. Examples of such infections include pneumonia, acquired
immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), candidiasis, diarrhea, and neonatal
sepsis. In treating pneumonia, for example pneumonia caused by Streptococcus
pneumoniae, antibiotics have minimal impact on mortality during the first
five days of illness. By sequestering iron, lactoferrin can inhibit the
growth of pneumococcals, and make them more susceptible to antibiotic
therapy. Although administration by oral and intravenous routes is
contemplated, a simple delivery system of lactoferrin by inhalation involving
topical administration to pulmonary membranes is most preferred. Generally,
treatment will involve administration three to four times daily of an aqueous
solution of lactoferrin in an amount of 100-200 mg per dose for a period of
time of 7 to 10 days by inhalation using a known inhaler. A particular cause
of opportunistic infections is the lowered host immunity caused by AIDS.
Systemic administration of lactoferrin in AIDS patients can help prevent or
at least delay the onset of secondary infections. A variety of treatment
modalities are contemplated. Intravenous administration of lactoferrin twice
daily in an amount of 100-200 mg per injection is recommended for a period of
time of one week followed by a one week break. The continuation of this pulse
therapy is contemplated for a period of time of three to six months.
Depending on the particular infection, an additional localized treatment is
also contemplated. For example, in the case of oral candidiasis, the
treatment will include administration of lactoferrin as a mouthwash twice
daily in an amount of 100-200 mg per dose for a period of time of 7 to 10
days. For a pulmonary infection, such as Pneumocistis carinii, the treatment
will involve administration of lactoferrin by inhalation four times daily in
an amount of 100-200 mg per dose for a period of time of 7 to 10 days. For
Kaposi's sarcoma treatment will involve topical administration of lactoferrin
in an ointment, twice daily, in an amount of 50-100 mg per dose for three to
four weeks. Fungi infections, depending on the type and location, are treated
orally, by intravenous injection, or topical administration. For example,
infections, such as vaginal candidiasis, are treated with lactoferrin in a
form of douches (vaginal wash) twice daily in an amount of 100-200 mg per
dose. Diarrhea, while not usually life threatening, can be dangerous,
particularly in infants, because of the potential for fluid imbalance. By
virtue of its high affinity for iron, lactoferrin can inhibit the growth of
pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract. Treatment of diarrhea will involve
oral administration of lactoferrin twice daily at an amount of 100-200 mg per
dose for a period of time of 7 to 10 days."

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