Last update May 31, 2024
Limited compatibility
Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.
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Kombucha is also known as
Kombucha in other languages or writings:
Kombucha belongs to this group or family:
Main tradenames from several countries containing Kombucha in its composition:
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e-lactancia is a resource recommended by Amamanta of Spain
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Kombucha is a beverage of probable Manchurian origin obtained from tea fermented by a symbiosis of various acid-acetic and lactic acid bacteria and yeasts (Saccharomyces) that inhibit the growth of contaminating bacteria and cause the formation of a polymeric cellulose film. The microbiological and chemical composition of this beverage is complex and more research is needed to understand its behavior and properties well (Villarreal 2018). It contains proteins and amino acids, sucrose, glucose, fructose, polyphenols, ethanol (alcohol), acetic acid, glucuronic acid, minerals, and Vitamins B and C. (Junior 2022, Mousavi 2020)
At the date of last update we found no published data on its excretion in breast milk.
Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, probiotic, antitumor, antiobesity, antidiabetic, antihypertensive and hypocholesterolemic properties are attributed to it. (Costa 2023, Atkinson 2023, Mendelson 2023, Díez 2022, Júnior 2022, Martínez 2020, Jakubczyk 2020)
There is hardly any evidence and even less of good quality on any of these therapeutic properties attributed to it and practically none is scientifically proven with randomized clinical trials, in humans, and devoid of conflict of interest. (Júnior 2022, Prados 2022, Díez 2022, Maldita 2020, Dimidi 2019, Kapp 2019, Martini 2018, Caorsi 2017, Jayabalan 2014, Ernst 2003, Majchrowicz 1995, Hauser 1990)
Having a very acidic pH (2.8 - 3.7) and a low fluoride concentration (<0.46 ppm), it has very erosive properties on tooth enamel.(Pierce 2023, Lind 2023)
Although in healthy individuals moderate consumption of properly prepared and stored kombucha carries no health risks, liver damage, metabolic acidosis, anthrax skin infection and even death have occurred in association with its consumption (Mirzai 2019, Gedela 2016, SungHee 2009, Derk 2004, Srinivasan 1997, CDC 1995, Crit Path AIDS 1994), usually due to over-consumption, or preparations with too much acidity or alcohol due to over-fermentation, or contaminated with pathogenic bacteria or stored in non-glass or stainless steel vessels or consumed by people with immune deficits.
Processing with poor hygiene favors contamination with Salmonella or Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (Brewer 2021). Storage in ceramic earthenware pots favors lead poisoning. (Phan 1998)
The degree of acidity, the amount of alcohol and glucose, the type and amount of bacteria and the possible beneficial or toxic effects of kombucha vary greatly according to the mode of manufacture, domestic-homemade or commercial (Ohwofasa 2024), being safer in commercial manufacture, controlled (hygiene, fermentation time, refrigerated storage and transport, acidity, alcohol, ...), than in homemade preparations.
Its alcohol content can reach between 0.5º and 5.5º. (Maldita 2020, Liu 2019, Nal 2019, Martinez 2017)
The scarcity of literature, its alcohol content and the potential toxicity of uncontrolled homemade preparations, added to the lack of precise therapeutic indications make it an expendable product, especially during breastfeeding (Martini 2018, Ernst 2003). Some commercial preparations that carry no, or only minimal traces of alcohol, might be acceptable during breastfeeding.
Since kombucha recipes may vary by region, it is recommended to follow the FDA and or CDC Model Food Code guidelines to ensure safe kombucha production. (Anantachoke 2023, CDC 2022, Nummer 2013) and not to exceed a daily consumption of 100 ml. (Batista 2022)