Development of oral tolerance to allergens via breastmilk.

Immune responses induced in early life to environmental and dietary antigens will be decisive for children and their adult response to these antigens, and they will condition development of immune-mediated diseases such as allergies and autoimm unity Maternal influence on neonatal tolerance induction through breast-feeding is probably of great importance because of dietary and environmental antigen transfer through breast milk and the pleiotropic effects of breast-feeding on gut and immune system maturation. In addition, maternal history and maternal sensitization to common environmental and food antigens will probably affect antigen transfer to the breastfed child along with tolerance induction.