A nine-country study of the protein content and amino acid composition of mature human milk.

Background: Numerous studies have evaluated protein and amino acid levels in human milk. However, research in this area has been limited by small sample sizes and study populations with little ethnic or racial diversity.

Objective: Evaluate the protein and amino acid composition of mature (≥30 days) human milk samples collected from a large, multinational study using highly standardized methods for sample collection, storage, and analysis.

Long-chain polyunsaturated fat supplementation in children with low docosahexaenoic acid intakes alters immune phenotypes compared with placebo.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of long-term supplementation with arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4n-6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) on cell phenotypes and cytokine production in children.

Patients And Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial provided children, (ages 5-7 years; n = 37) who had low intakes of DHA, with a dietary supplement containing AA (20-30 mg daily) and DHA (14-21 mg daily) or a placebo supplement for 7 months. After the supplementation period, a series of stimulants (pokeweed mitogen, phytohemagluttinin, lipopolysaccharide, beta-lactoglobulin, and ibuprofen) was used to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells ex vivo.

Alpha-lactalbumin-rich infant formula fed to healthy term infants in a multicenter study: plasma essential amino acids and gastrointestinal tolerance.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of an alpha-lactalbumin-enriched formula with a protein profile and total protein concentration closer to human milk (HM) and lower than conventional formulas.

Subjects/methods: Two hundred and sixteen healthy, term infants, View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Human milk fatty acid composition from nine countries varies most in DHA.

Many published studies of breast milk FA composition are limited to populations from one or two countries. We aimed to examine the degree to which FA compositions vary across a number of diverse populations. Because diet and maternal adipose stores influence breast milk FA composition, differences in FA composition between groups most likely reflect habitual dietary differences.

A multinational study of alpha-lactalbumin concentrations in human milk.

Alpha-lactalbumin, a 14-kD protein, plays a central biochemical role in the mammary gland as the regulatory subunit of lactose synthase, and also plays a nutritional role for the rapidly growing neonate as the protein in highest concentration in human milk. The current study was undertaken to better characterize alpha-lactalbumin concentrations in human milk from a variety of countries. Mature human milk (lactation duration > or =1 month) was collected from at least 50 women from nine different countries on five continents.

Multinational study of major breast milk carotenoids of healthy mothers.

Background: Carotenoids in serum vary between countries and within populations with evidence suggesting a qualitative relationship to diet. Breast milk carotenoids furnish a source of vitamin A and potentially provide immunoprotection and other health benefits for infants. There have been numerous studies of milk carotenoid concentrations in undernourished populations; however, carotenoid concentrations have not previously been compared in populations of well-nourished mothers.

Evaluation of a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplemented formula on growth, tolerance, and plasma lipids in preterm infants up to 48 weeks postconceptional age.

Background: The last trimester of pregnancy is a period of rapid accretion of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, both in the central nervous system and the body as a whole. Human milk contains these fatty acids, whereas some preterm infant formulas do not. Infants fed formulas without these fatty acids have lower plasma and erythrocyte concentrations than infants fed human milk.