Consensus of Chinese experts on clinical application of lactoferrin

Abstract

Lactoferrin is a natural protein with various physiological activities, which has the function of regulating immunity, anti-microbial, regulating iron absorption, promoting the proliferation of intestinal cells, and multiple pathophysiological processes. In recent years, lactoferrin has been widely used in infants, pregnant women, and the elderly. In order to more comprehensively understand the clinical application of lactoferrin and establish the method and index system of lactoferrin application in different populations, clinical nutritionists, together with experts from multiple disciplines, used the evidence grading method of GRADE Collaboration Network Ⅱ under the principle of evidence-based medicine to search for clinical evidence and repeatedly discuss. The experts group reached a consensus on the effect of lactoferrin reducing the risk of infection in premature infants, the incidence of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases in infants, improving the anemia status of infants and pregnant women, improving the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori in children and adults, and improving the immune function of the elderly, which could be used as a reference for medical professionals in clinical work.