Are there benefits for adults to drink breast milk?

January 13, 2026 •

3 min read

Historically, breast milk has been used as a folk remedy for centuries, with proponents claiming various healing properties. However, modern medical experts are skeptical, and no major health organization endorses the practice for adults due to a lack of evidence for proven health benefits.

Quick Summary

Despite growing interest and anecdotal claims, scientific evidence does not support significant health benefits for adults consuming breast milk. Risks associated with consuming milk from unscreened sources, such as exposure to infectious diseases and bacterial contamination, far outweigh any perceived advantages.

Key Points

No Proven Health Benefits: For healthy adults, there is no scientific evidence to support significant health benefits from consuming breast milk.
Risk of Disease Transmission: Sourcing breast milk from unregulated online sites risks exposure to infectious diseases like HIV, Hepatitis, and Syphilis.
Bacterial Contamination: Improper collection, storage, and handling of donor milk can lead to dangerous bacterial contamination.
Nutritional Mismatch: Breast milk's nutritional profile, including lower protein content, is tailored for infant growth and is not superior for adult needs like muscle building.
Research Focuses on Isolated Components: Medical research is exploring the therapeutic potential of isolated breast milk compounds, not the milk itself.
Better Alternatives Exist: Safer and more effective sources of nutrients and immune support are widely available through a balanced diet and regulated supplements.

Debunking the Myths: Why Breast Milk Isn't a Superfood for Grown-Ups

Human breast milk is often called 'liquid gold' for infants, providing a perfect balance of nutrients, antibodies, and growth factors specifically tailored to a baby's needs. However, this specialized composition does not translate into a universal superfood for adults. While rich in specific nutrients and immune components, a healthy adult's digestive system and immune system function very differently from an infant's, limiting the potential absorption and impact of these components. In fact, many of the bioactive elements that support an infant's developing body are quickly broken down by an adult's more acidic stomach.

The Nutritional Mismatch: Why Adult Needs Differ from Infants

An adult's nutritional requirements are markedly different from those of an infant. For example, mature human milk contains significantly less protein than cow's milk—approximately 1-2% compared to 3-4% in cow's milk. This lower protein content is ideal for a baby's developing kidneys, but it offers no advantage for an adult seeking to build muscle or enhance performance, a popular misconception among some fitness enthusiasts. Adults can get higher quality and more abundant protein from conventional sources like meat, dairy, and legumes without the associated health risks.

Moreover, the complex human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), which are crucial for developing a healthy gut microbiome in infants, offer minimal benefit to adults. Adults already have a well-established and more complex gut flora, and their digestive systems don't require the same foundational support as a newborn's. The growth hormones present in breast milk are also infant-specific and show no evidence of positively affecting adult physiology.

The Serious Health Risks of Unregulated Breast Milk

One of the most significant and often overlooked dangers is the risk of contamination from unscreened donor milk. The practice of purchasing or sharing breast milk through unregulated online platforms poses a serious health hazard. Since human breast milk is a bodily fluid, it can carry infectious diseases that are transmissible through milk, including:

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Hepatitis B and C
Cytomegalovirus
Syphilis

A study on breast milk purchased online found that a high percentage of samples contained detectable levels of bacteria, likely due to improper handling, storage, and transport. This bacterial contamination can lead to foodborne illnesses, presenting a significant danger to healthy and immunocompromised individuals.

Comparing Human Breast Milk and Cow's Milk for Adults


Feature	Human Breast Milk (for infants)	Cow's Milk (for adults)
Primary Purpose	Tailored for infant development	General nutrition for calves; beneficial for adults
Protein Content	1-2% (lower, gentler on infant kidneys)	3-4% (higher, beneficial for muscle development)
Lactose Content	6-7% (primary carb for infant energy)	4-5% (less than breast milk)
Whey-to-Casein Ratio	Higher whey (easier for infants to digest)	Higher casein (slower digestion, for different needs)
Immune Factors	Active antibodies and living cells (destroyed by pasteurization)	Pasteurized, so immune factors are inactive or removed
Growth Hormones	Specific hormones for infant growth	Different hormones for bovine growth, no proven adult benefit
Risks of Unscreened	N/A	Low risk due to regulated pasteurization
Risk of Unregulated	High risk of infectious disease and bacteria	Minimal to none

Scientific Promise in Isolation, Not Consumption

While drinking breast milk offers no scientifically proven benefits for a healthy adult, research into its individual components is showing promise in a controlled, therapeutic context. Scientists are exploring how to synthetically replicate specific compounds, like human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), to develop new medications. These therapies could one day target inflammatory conditions like Crohn's disease, certain cancers, and cardiovascular diseases, but this involves isolating specific molecules for medical use, not consuming the milk itself.

Conclusion: Caution and Clarity

For the vast majority of healthy adults, there are no proven health benefits to consuming breast milk. The nutritional profile is optimized for infants, not grown individuals, and more effective and safer alternatives exist for general health, fitness, and nutrition. Given the serious health risks associated with consuming unregulated, unscreened donor milk, the practice is not recommended by medical experts. The true potential for adults lies not in drinking breast milk, but in the future therapeutic applications of its isolated components, guided by rigorous scientific research. Always consult a healthcare professional before considering such unconventional health practices. More on the risks of buying unregulated donor milk online.

Frequently Asked Questions

While it's not inherently toxic, drinking breast milk from unscreened sources is not safe due to the significant risk of contracting infectious diseases or ingesting harmful bacteria.

No, the antibodies and immune factors in breast milk are specifically designed for an infant's underdeveloped immune system and are largely broken down by an adult's more acidic stomach.

No, there is no scientific evidence supporting this claim. Breast milk contains less protein than cow's milk and lacks the nutritional profile required for significant adult muscle building.

No, while some anecdotal reports exist, there is no robust scientific evidence to show that consuming breast milk can effectively treat adult illnesses like cancer or digestive disorders.

The risk is very high. It exposes you to the potential for infectious diseases (like HIV and Hepatitis), severe bacterial contamination, and adulteration (like mixing with cow's milk).

Scientific research focuses on isolating and replicating specific compounds from breast milk, such as HMOs, for pharmaceutical development. This is fundamentally different and far safer than consuming whole, unregulated breast milk.

Human milk banks rigorously screen donors and pasteurize the milk, but their services are exclusively for fragile newborns, not for healthy adult consumption.