03/14/2026
🧠✨ A drop of breast milk… in the nose?
Science says it might help protect the brain!!!
A newly published clinical study explored intranasal administration of fresh mother’s breast milk for babies with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).
HIE is a serious condition caused by reduced oxygen and blood flow to the brain around the time of birth and is a major cause of neonatal mortality and long-term neurological disability. 
Researchers investigated whether giving a small amount of fresh breast milk into the nose could be safe and feasible for these infants.
Here’s what they did:
• Fresh mother’s milk expressed within 4 hours was used
• 0.4 mL was placed in each nostril
• Given twice daily starting within the first 48 hours of life
• Continued until day 28
The results from the clinical study showed:
✔ The treatment was feasible in both the NICU and at home
✔ It was well tolerated with no adverse events reported
✔ Parents were able to safely continue the therapy after discharge 
Why might this work?
Breast milk contains stem cells, neurotrophic factors, growth factors, immune cells, and anti-inflammatory compounds that may support brain repair and neurodevelopment. 
The intranasal route is particularly interesting because it may allow substances to reach the brain through pathways connected to the nasal cavity, potentially bypassing the blood-brain barrier. 
This early clinical study mainly demonstrated safety and feasibility. Larger studies are still needed to determine whether it improves long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Still, it highlights something remarkable!!
Human milk is not just nutrition. It’s biologically active medicine.
Science is still uncovering just how powerful it can be. 🧬
Tarjanyi E, Jermendy A, Szabo M, Brandt FA, Szasz B, Nyilas N, Meder U. F-NEO-BRIGHT: feasibility and safety of intranasal fresh breast milk in neonatal encephalopathy. Pediatr Res. 2026 Mar 3. doi: 10.1038/s41390-026-04847-2. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41776367.
