Abstract
Colostrum is produced in the first days postpartum. It is a known source of immune mediators for a newborn within the first week of life. Although it is still unclear if colostrum composition varies between populations, recent data suggest differences. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF); transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) 1, 2, and 3; and immunoglobulin A (IgA) are key immunological components of colostrum that stimulate neonatal gastrointestinal and immune system development. We aimed to investigate the differences in the concentration between immune markers in the colostrum of mothers living in Burundi and Italy, and to identify the factors associated with differences. In this cross-sectional birth cohort study, a total of 99 colostrum samples from Burundian (n = 23) and Italian (n = 76) women were collected at 0 to 6 days postpartum. A clinical chemistry analyser was used for IgA quantification and electro-chemiluminescence, for HGF and TGFβ1-3 assessment. A univariate analysis and multivariate linear regression model were used for statistical testing. The concentrations of TGF-β2 (p = 0.01) and IgA (p < 0.01) were significantly higher in the colostrum from the women residing in Burundi than in Italy, both in a univariate analysis and upon the adjustment for confounding factors. A similar trend is seen for HGF, reaching statistical significance upon a multivariate analysis. We found a moderate to strong positive correlation between the TGF-β isoforms and IgA concentration in both countries (p < 0.01), with stronger concentration in the colostrum from Burundi. The results of this study are in support of previous data, suggesting that concentration of the immune active molecules is higher in the human milk of women residing in developing countries. However, with a small sample size, caution must be applied, as the findings require further confirmation. Future work should also be focused on other factors (e.g., lipid and microbial composition), as well as the investigation into colostrum and between populations comparison, adjusting for potential confounders.
Highlights
Human milk is a first source of nutrition for a newborn child and is globally accepted to be beneficial for the developing infant [1]
The principle concentration of the growth factor found in the human colostrum was dominated by TGF-β2, followed by Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), TGF-β3, and TGF-β1, respectively
The principle concentration of the growth factor found in the human colostrum was dominated by TGFβ2, followed by HGF, TGF-β3, and TGF-β1, respectively
Summary
Human milk is a first source of nutrition for a newborn child and is globally accepted to be beneficial for the developing infant [1]. The advantages of breastfeeding include the transference of multiple immune factors, maturation of gut immunity, and anti-inflammatory effects [2]. The rising burden of non-communicable diseases increased an interest in their association with human milk (HM) cytokine composition [3,4]. Previous prospective and longitudinal studies provided conflicting evidence on a breastfeeding protective effect on non-communicable [6] and communicable [7] outcomes, and have led to a suggestion that it may be due to the diversity of human milk composition between individuals [8]. Colostrum is the first human milk produced within the first days postpartum, and it allows for the transport of a high concentration of growth factors per unit volume. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is secreted into human colostrum by multipotent mesenchymal stem cells [9]. HGF is expressed in BM as well as in the epithelial cells of the female reproductive tract and the gastrointestinal tract [10]
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