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Is variation in total antioxidant capacity of human milk associated with levels of bio-active proteins?

Journal of Perinatology volume 34, pages 220–222 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective:

As the antioxidant properties of human milk may be beneficial for very preterm-born infants, it is important to identify the association between total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and bio-active proteins.

Study Design:

Breast milk was prospectively collected (four times) on postpartum days 6 to 8, 13 to 15, 20 to 22 and 27 to 29 from 15 mothers who had delivered between 24 and 31 weeks of gestation. Skimmed milk was assayed to measure TAC and bio-active proteins (lysozyme, lactoferrin, leptin and adiponectin). The association between TAC and levels of bio-active proteins during the first month of lactation was analyzed in a regression model.

Result:

Coefficient of determinations (R2) revealed an overall effect of bio-active proteins on breast milk TAC (R2=0.635+/−0.102, P<0.0001). Breast milk leptin, lysozyme and lactoferrin levels were identified as independent factors that significantly predict the concentration of TAC.

Conclusion:

The identified enhancement of the antioxidant capacity of human milk by bio-active proteins that are lacking in commercial formula supports consideration of breast milk as ideal nutrition for preterm-born neonates.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the benevolent mothers who took the time to set aside some of their own milk for research purposes, and Uday Nadgir, Nitin Goyal and Zindadil Gandhi who assisted with the sample processing and assays.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, 08903, NJ, USA

    R Mehta & A Petrova

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  1. R Mehta
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Correspondence to R Mehta.

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Mehta, R., Petrova, A. Is variation in total antioxidant capacity of human milk associated with levels of bio-active proteins?. J Perinatol 34, 220–222 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2013.151

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