Lactoferrin in duodenal aspirates during childhood.

Abstract

Lactoferrin is a major protein in human milk. Since its concentration is higher in human colostrum than in mature human milk, it is assumed that this iron-binding protein may be part of the protective system of human milk like the immunoglobulin A1. Lactoferrin is also found in secretory fluids like saliva and pancreatic juice2,3. Industrial produced infant formulas do not contain significant amounts of bovine milk derived lactoferrin, neither they contain the species-specific human lactoferrin. Therefore, it remains an open question, whether human milk is the only significant source of lactoferrin reaching the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of the newborn human infant. To clarify this, a study was implemented to quantify the lactoferrin synthesised by one specific site of the GI tract, namely the pancreas. Testing was performed by measuring the lactoferrin in samples of duodenal aspirates. To get age-related information, these samples were taken from infants and children starting very early after birth until the age of about 8 years.