Lactoferrin (LF) is an 80 kD iron-binding glycoprotein that is most highly produced in human and bovine milk and is also widely distributed in mammals. Researches of more than 70 years on lactoferrin prove that the molecule, as a nutritional molecule for mammals, possesses several physiological roles, including maintaining iron absorption, anti-microbial activity and immune modulation. Recent studies have demonstrated that LF can protect against cancer in experimental animals and has anticarcinogenic activity in many human tumors. As a natural nutrition, the "old" gene-lactoferrin has attracted attention from medical community for its "new"anticarcinogenic role.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Lactoferrin ; pharmacology ; physiology ; Milk ; chemistry ; Milk, Human ; chemistry

Human breast milk is the most natural and ideal food for the baby. Breastfeeding provides benefits for maternal and child health, child immune function, growth and development, and society. The operation of human milk bank and the use of donor human milk undoubtedly provides a new way of nutrition support for the preterm infants without their own mother's milk and a new kind of treatment for other diseases. Present research on the composition of breast milk focuses on the variety and quantity of proteins, bioactive substances, probiotics and cell population.Future research may focus on the bioactive substances, the mechanism of regulation and effect of cell population, the application of probiotics and the clinical application of donor human milk.
Breast Feeding ; Female ; Humans ; Milk Banks ; Milk, Human ; chemistry ; cytology ; Probiotics ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo detect the content of estrogen and progesterone in commercial milk in China and to compare the differences between commercial cows and traditional cows in the content of estrogen and progesterone of the milk, the breeding of cows and the process of milk production.

METHODSEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to investigate the estrone, estradiol and progesterone in commercial and traditional milk, and literature review and field investigation was used to compare the differences of breeding and milk production.

RESULTSThe mean concentration of estrone, estradiol and progesterone in Mongolian traditional cow milk was (98.5 +/- 12.4) pg/ml, (24.6 +/- 3.0) pg/ml and (0.2 +/- 0.3) ng/ml, respectively. The concentrations of estrone were (150.2 +/- 8.4), (131.3 +/- 16.3) and (128.9 +/- 13.0) pg/ml; The concentrations of estradiol were (35.4 +/- 2.2), (30.3 +/- 3.1) and (30.0 +/- 2.0) pg/ml; The concentrations of progesterone were (20.2 +/- 1.5), (18.1 +/- 2.2) and (16.5 +/- 2.4) ng/ ml, respectively. The content of estrogen and progesterone in commercial milks were higher than that in traditional milks (estrone comparison: t = 5.43, 19.23, 5.89; estradiol comparison: t = 4.14, 4.93, 14.03; progesterone comparison: t = 28.47, 32.73, 22.82; P < 0.05). Mongolian traditional cows did not lactate during the latter half of pregnancy. However, modern commercial cows might lactate almost in an entire period of pregnancy. Moreover, the lactating period was longer and milk production was higher in modern commercial cows than that in traditional cows.

CONCLUSIONSThe content of estrogen and progesterone in commercial milk in Chinese market detected might be higher than that in traditional milk.

Animals ; Cattle ; Estrogens ; analysis ; Female ; Milk ; chemistry ; Pregnancy ; Progesterone ; analysis

Humans ; Infant ; Milk, Human ; chemistry ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVEBecause maternal epidermal growth factor (EGF) may be an adaptive response to accelerate growth and maturation in premature infants, we compared the EGF content in fresh cow's milk and cow's milk-based infant formulas with full and preterm mother's milk.

METHODSEGF content of 57 human colostrum from mothers delivering prematurely and at term, 4 different fresh cow's milk and 8 different cow's milk-based infant formulas was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA).

RESULTSHuman milk from mothers of premature infants had a higher EGF content compared to that from mothers of term infants (28.2 +/- 10.3 nmol/L vs. 17.3 +/- 9.6 nmol/L). EGF content in human milk negatively correlated with gestational age and birth weight of neonates. EGF content in fresh cow's milk (13.8 - 18.2 nmol/L) was similar to that in human term milk. EGF levels in non-hydrolyzed protein formulas were much lower (5.6 - 8.6 nmol/L), and were undetectable in hydrolyzed protein formulas.

CONCLUSIONThe high EGF content in premature milk may represent a maternal compensatory mechanism to accelerate the growth and development of immature infants. Feeding infants with breast milk from their own mother should be advocated since there is lack of EGF in cow's milk-based infant formulas.

Animals ; Cattle ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Food ; analysis ; Milk ; chemistry ; Milk, Human ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore types of organic components and pollution level of di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) between human milk and cow milk products.

METHODSForty healthy postpartum women with an average age of (27.44 ± 3.43) years old were selected, and a 5 ml sample of breast milk were collected. Four different brands of fresh cow milk and 1 brand of milk powder were randomly selected in the market. A total of 15 samples were collected with 3 from each brand, and the qualitative analysis of types of organic components and quantitative analysis of DBP were conducted by gas-chromatography and mass-spectrometry (GC/MS) method.

RESULTSA total of 176 different types of organic components were detected in 40 samples of human milk (averaged at (10.58 ± 4.16) types per sample); 37 different types were detected in 12 samples of fresh cow milk (averaged at (8.67 ± 1.61) types per sample); while 31 types of organic components were detected in 3 samples of milk powder (averaged at (12.67 ± 0.58) types per sample). It was obvious that the types of organic components in milk powder were significantly higher than the other two groups (t = 2.09, 4.00, P < 0.05). The most frequent organic component in human milk and cow milk was 9-octadecenoic acid (45.00% (18/40) in human milk; 53.33% (8/15) in cow milk). DBP concentrations were (57.78 ± 35.42) µg/L, (20.76 ± 6.60) µg/L and (0.45 ± 0.05) mg/kg (equal to (66.78 ± 7.60) µg/L) in human milk, fresh cow milk and milk powder, respectively. The DBP concentration in fresh cow milk was significantly lower than those in human milk and milk powder (t = 37.02, 46.02, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth human milk and cow milk contain different types of organic pollutants, some of which have toxic effects on reproduction and human development.

Adult ; Animals ; Cattle ; Dibutyl Phthalate ; analysis ; Diethylhexyl Phthalate ; analysis ; Environmental Pollutants ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Milk ; chemistry ; Milk, Human ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between maternal milk and serum thyroid hormones in patients with thyroid-related diseases.

METHODSSerum and breast milk samples were collected from 56 breastfeeding mothers. Milk and serum free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), triiodothyronine(T3), thyroxine (T4), and thyrotrophin (TSH) were determined, and T3/T4 was calculated. Using the serum thyroid hormones as the independent variables and milk thyroid hormones as the dependent variables, we performed linear regression analysis.

RESULTSThe milk FT3, FT4, T3, T4, TSH, and T3/T4 were (2.30 ± 0.82) pg/ml ,(0.45 ± 0.26) ng/dl, (0.35 ± 0.20) ng/ml, (2.96 ± 1.55) Μg/dl, (0.12 ± 0.08) ΜU/ml, and 0.12 ± 0.04, respectively. Milk FT3 (r = 0.778, P = 0.000), T3 (r = 0.603, P = 0.000), T4 (r = 0.485, P = 0.004), and TSH (r = 0.605, P = 0.000) concentrations were positively correlated with those in serum.

CONCLUSIONThyroid hormones are present in human milk and are positively correlated with those in serum.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Milk, Human ; chemistry ; Thyroid Diseases ; blood ; Thyroid Hormones ; blood ; chemistry ; Thyrotropin ; blood ; chemistry ; Triiodothyronine ; blood ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the dynamic changes in macronutrients and energy in human milk from mothers of premature infants.

METHODSA total of 339 human milk samples were collected from 170 women who delivered preterm or full-term infants in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital between November 2012 and January 2014. Macronutrients (proteins, fats and carbohydrates and energy were measured using a MIRIS human milk analyzer and compared between groups.

RESULTSIn milk samples from premature infants' mothers, the protein levels were the highest in colostrum (2.22±0.49 g/dL), less in transitional milk (1.83±0.39 g/dL), and the least in mature milk (1.40±0.28 g/dL) (P<0.01), and the levels of fats (2.4±1.3 g/dL vs 3.1±1.1 g/dL; P<0.01), carbohydrates (6.4±0.9 g/dL vs 6.6±0.4 g/dL; P<0.05) and energy (55±9 kcal/dL vs 62±8 kcal/dL; P<0.01) were significantly lower in colostrum than in transitional milk. The protein levels in colostrum from premature infants' mothers were significantly higher than those in colostrum from term infants' mothers (2.22±0.49 g/dL vs 2.07±0.34 g/dL; P<0.05). The colostrum from mothers of premature infants with a gestational age of ≤30 weeks had significantly higher protein levels than those from mothers of premature infants with gestational ages of 30(+1)-33(+6) weeks and ≥34 weeks (2.48±0.68 g/dL vs 2.11±0.25 g/dL and 2.22±0.39 g/dL respectively, P<0.05); the energy levels in colostrum from mothers of premature infants with a gestational age of ≤30 weeks group (51±6 kcal/dL) were significantly lower than those in colostrum from mothers of premature infants with a gestational age of 30(+1)-33(+6) weeks (58±8 kcal/d; P<0.05). The carbohydrate levels in transitional milk from mothers of premature infants with a gestational age of ≤30 weeks were significantly higher than those in transitional milk from mothers of premature infants with gestational ages of 30(+1)-33(+6) weeks and ≥34 weeks (P<0.05). The protein levels in mature milk from mothers of premature infants with a gestational age of 30(+1)-33(+6) weeks were significantly higher than those in mature milk from mothers of premature infants with gestational ages of ≤30 weeks and ≥34 weeks (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe levels of macronutrients and energy in milk from mothers of premature infants vary significantly between colostrum, transitional milk, and mature milk. Protein levels are significantly higher in colostrum from premature infants' mothers than in colostrum from term infants' mothers, but the significant difference is not seen for mature milk. Macronutrient and energy levels show significant differences between milk samples from mothers of premature infants with different gestational ages, so as to meet different needs of premature infants.

Adult ; Carbohydrates ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Lipids ; analysis ; Middle Aged ; Milk Proteins ; analysis ; Milk, Human ; chemistry ; Pregnancy

Animals ; Cattle ; China ; Dairy Products ; Food Contamination ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Formula ; chemistry ; Milk ; Triazines ; chemistry

Novel ion exchange adsorbents were synthesized by immobilizing sulfopropyl derivative onto homemade highly cross-linked agarose beads. The effects of different ligand densities (from 0.05 to 0.24 mol/L) on static and dynamic adsorption of the adsorbents were investigated using lysozyme as a model protein. Based on these results, rHLF was purified from the transgenic milk by our SP media. 1 mL high density (0.24 mol/L) adsorbent could handle 50 mL rHLF-containing milk. The mass recovery of rHLF was 86.5% and the purity was 98.5%. CD spectra demonstrated that the native structure of rHLF was not affected in the purification process. The biological functions of the purified rHLF, including iron binding, releasing and antimicrobial activities were then investigated. The results showed that rHLF had comparable iron binding and releasing activity to that of native HLF. 5 g/L concentration of rHLF significantly inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli. These studies lay a solid foundation for the wide application of our self-prepared ion exchange adsorbents in protein purification.
Animals ; Cattle ; Female ; Humans ; Lactoferrin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Mammary Glands, Animal ; metabolism ; Milk ; chemistry ; Milk, Human ; chemistry ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification