Correlation Between Lactoferrin in Breast Milk and Beneficial Microbiota in Infant's Feces

Abstract

Lactoferrin is an iron binding glycoprotein is one of the major bioactive components of breast milk with particularly high concentrations in colostrum. During breastfeeding high amounts of LF are transferred to the intestine of the newborn. Many studies investigated that LF could promote an environment in the gut of neonates that favors colonization with beneficial bacteria; LF is considered as a growth promoter for beneficial microorganism of human intestine. Bifidobacteria and lactobacilli are the main microorganisms of the ‘‘healthy’’ microbiota observed in the feces of breast-fed infants. The infant’s microbiota is acquired during the perinatal period. The objective of the current study was to estimate lactoferrin level in breast milk and to correlate between LF in breast milk and infant’s gut colonization by beneficial microbiota. For this purpose 40 neonates (20 full terms and 20 preterms) recruited from neonatology unit, Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital at Ain Shams University Hospital included in the study. Colostrum sample (1ml-2ml) was collected right after collection of the first meconium sample, from each mother for lactoferrin determination by Enzyme-Linked Immuno-sorbent Assay (ELISA). First meconium sample 100-150 grams were collected, after inititin of regular breast feeding, from the pre-term and full term infants to study the gut microbiota. In our study, comparison studies between full term and preterm infants concerning sex and growth of microbiota revealed non-significant difference. However, the colony count in preterm infants appeared to be higher than full term infants.