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No. 38 / June 2015 © 2015, Nestlé Nutrition Institute
CH–1800 Vevey
Switzerland
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The concentration of protein in hu- and examined data on true protein in research is required to understand the
man milk follows a temporal pattern human milk at various lactation stages dynamics of bioactive proteins with
and decreases with progressing stag- from 26 publications to highlight the advancing stages of lactation along
1.0
es of lactation. evolution of proteins in human milk with their contribution of biological ac-
during the first year of life [4]. As evi- tivities at various stages of an infant’s
Human milk provides unparalleled nu- dent from figure 1, there is a signifi- growth.
trition to infants in early stages of life. cant decrease in true protein in human
0.5
Consequently, the WHO/UNICEF, the milk from the very first week of lacta-
0–5 6–15 16–30 31–60 61–90 91–360
American Academy of Pediatrics and tion. The decline in the concentration References Time (days)
other similar organizations recom- of the protein continues to 6 months 1. World Health Organization: Infant and young
mend exclusive breast-feeding for the of life, after which it remains relatively child nutrition. Geneva, WHO, 2003.
2. American Academy of Pediatrics: Breast- Fig. 1. True protein in human milk over the first year of postpartum life.
first 6 months of life, with the introduc- constant. It is also noteworthy that feeding and the use of human milk. Section
tion of complementary food at the age during the early stages of lactation on breastfeeding. Pediatrics 2012;129:e827–
e841.
of 6 months and continuation of there is a high content of whey fraction 3. Denne SC: Neonatal nutrition. Pediatr Clin
breast-feeding for as long as mutually in human milk compared to caseins North Am 2015;62:427–438.
4. Destaillats F, Erdmann P, Thakkar SK,
agreeable by the mother and the infant (approximately 90:10 to 80:20) that Lönnerdal B: A developmental perspective of
[1, 2]. Human milk is a comprehensive transitions to 60:40 in transition milk the contents of total protein and bioactive
proteins in breast milk. In preparation.
source of energy, macronutrients as and to 50:50 in mature milk [5, 6]. Ad- 5. Kunz C, Lönnerdal B: Re-evaluation of the
well as bioactive micronutrients es- ditionally, colostrum protein is rich in whey protein/casein ratio of human milk.
Acta Paediatr 1992;81:107–112.
sential for the growth and develop- immune and growth factors. More- 6. Lönnerdal B: Nutritional and physiologic
ment of an infant, with possible excep- over, there are also multitudes of bio- significance of human milk proteins. Am J
Clin Nutr 2003;77:1537S–1543S.
tions of iron and vitamin D [3]. It is also active proteins in human milk, such as 7. Lönnerdal B: Bioactive proteins in breast milk.
a very dynamic fluid and may evolve lactoferrin, lysozyme, secretory IgA, J Paediatr Child Health 2013;49(suppl 1):1–7.
Bo Lönnerdal