The Effect of Mare's Milk Consumption on Functional Elements of Phagocytosis of Human Neutrophil Granulocytes From Healthy Volunteers

Abstract

We investigated functional parameters of phagocytosis in 18 healthy volunteers drinking 250 mL of mare's milk, deep-frozen (FMM) or lyophilized (LMM), or cow's milk (CM) daily for three weeks. Blood was taken before, weekly during, and one week after intervention. Chemotaxis of isolated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) was investigated by a micropore filter assay, migration was determined fluorimetrically. The activity of phagocytosis and respiratory burst of PMN in whole blood was analysed with Phago- and Bursttest ® by flow cytometry. Contrary to phagocytosis activity, chemotactic index (CI) and burst activity diminished significantly in the group FMM. One week after intervention, CI rose tendentiously, burst activity significantly. In conclusion, immunostimulating effects ascribed to mare's milk consumption could not be observed in healthy volunteers, at least concerning phagocytosis. Our results suggest that drinking FMM modulates inflammation processes by decreasing chemotaxis and respiratory burst, which might be favourable for giving relief to diseases with recurrent inflammation.