Antibodies
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Secretory IgA antibody (g/L)2121 Lonnerdal B, Erdmann P, Thakkar SK, Sauser J, Destaillats F. Longitudinal evolution of true protein, amino acids and bioactive proteins in breast milk: a developmental perspective. J Nutr Biochem 2017;41:1–11.
|
5.45 |
1.5 |
1.0 |
Perform “immune exclusion” (bind to bacteria, prevent microbial adhesion and penetration through the epithelium, without triggering inflammatory reactions)99 Palmeira P, Carneiro-Sampaio M. Immunology of breast milk. Rev Assoc Med Bras 2016;62(6):584–93.
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|
IgM antibody (g/L)3434 Mickleson KN, Moriarty KM. Immunoglobulin levels in human colostrum and milk. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 1982;1(3):381–4.
|
1.13 |
0.15 |
0.05 |
Perform “immune exclusion”, has a compensatory activity in IgA-deficient patients99 Palmeira P, Carneiro-Sampaio M. Immunology of breast milk. Rev Assoc Med Bras 2016;62(6):584–93.
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|
IgG antibody (g/L)3434 Mickleson KN, Moriarty KM. Immunoglobulin levels in human colostrum and milk. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 1982;1(3):381–4.
|
0.53 |
0.04 |
0.03 |
Neutralizing and opsonizing activities, complement system activation and antibody-dependent cytotoxicity99 Palmeira P, Carneiro-Sampaio M. Immunology of breast milk. Rev Assoc Med Bras 2016;62(6):584–93.
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Carbohydrate
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Oligosaccharides (g/L)3535 Gidrewicz DA, Fenton TR. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the nutrient content of preterm and term breast milk. BMC Pediatr 2014;14:216.
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16 |
16 |
14 |
Promotes the growth of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria; due to the homology of epithelial cell surface receptors, they inhibit pathogen adhesion to the infant gut33 Hong DK, Lewis DB. Developmental immunology and role of host defenses in fetal and neonatal susceptibility to infection. In: Wilson CB, Nizet V, Maldonado YA, Remington JS, Klein JO, eds. Remington and Klein’s infectious diseases of the fetus and newborn infant, Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:81–188.
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Proteins
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Lactoferrin (g/L)1818 Trend S, Strunk T, Lloyd ML, Kok CH, Metcalfe J, Geddes DT, et al. Levels of innate immune factors in preterm and term mothers' breast milk during the 1st month postpartum. Br J Nutr 2016;115(7):1178–93.
|
5.71 |
4.32 |
3.64 |
Forms lactoferricin, limiting bacterial growth by removing essential iron; stimulates cytokine production; enhances mucosal immunity, Natural Killer (NK) cell activity and macrophage cytotoxicity; exerts activity against viruses and fungi3636 Lonnerdal B. Nutritional and physiologic significance of human milk proteins. Am J Clin Nutr 2003;77(6):1537S–43S.
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Haptocorrin (g/L)3737 Aoki Y, Kobayashi K, Kajii T. Enzyme-linked immunoassay of haptocorrin: analysis of milk and granulocytes. Biochem Med Metab Biol 1992;47(2):189–94.
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4.83±1.23 |
|
3.17+1.77 |
Antibacterial activity and facilitates the uptake of vitamin B12 by the infant’s intestinal cells3636 Lonnerdal B. Nutritional and physiologic significance of human milk proteins. Am J Clin Nutr 2003;77(6):1537S–43S.
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|
α-Lactalbumin (g/L)3333 Donovan SM. Human milk proteins: composition and physiological significance. Nestle Nutr Inst Workshop Ser 2019;90:93–101.
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4.56±0.41 |
3.52+0.27 |
2.85+0.24 |
Antimicrobial activity and binds to oleic acid to form a compound called HAMLET (a molecular complex that kills tumor cells by a process resembling programmed cell death)99 Palmeira P, Carneiro-Sampaio M. Immunology of breast milk. Rev Assoc Med Bras 2016;62(6):584–93.
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|
k-Casein (mg/L)3333 Donovan SM. Human milk proteins: composition and physiological significance. Nestle Nutr Inst Workshop Ser 2019;90:93–101.
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860±90 |
800+100 |
550+50 |
Soluble receptor analog with inhibitory activity for adhesion of Helicobacter pylori to the human gastric mucosa3636 Lonnerdal B. Nutritional and physiologic significance of human milk proteins. Am J Clin Nutr 2003;77(6):1537S–43S.
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|
α1-Antichymotrypsin (mg/L)3838 Lindberg T, Ohlsson K, Weström B. Protease inhibitors and their relation to protease activity in human milk. Pediatr Res 1982;16(6):479–83.
|
670 |
95 |
12 |
Possible actions in the nursling’s gut: inhibition of DNA polymerase; IL-2 stimulation of T cells; neutrophil superoxide production; chemotaxis3939 Uruena C, Tellería JJ, Blanco-Quirós A, Arranz E, Gomez-Carrasco JA. Alpha-1 anti-chymotrypsin levels are actively increased in normal colostrum. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 1998;26(4):376–9.
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Osteopontin (mg/L)3333 Donovan SM. Human milk proteins: composition and physiological significance. Nestle Nutr Inst Workshop Ser 2019;90:93–101.
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180±10 |
|
138+9 |
Induces a Th1 response4040 Lönnerdal B. Bioactive Proteins in Human Milk-Potential Benefits for Preterm Infants. Clin Perinatol 2017;44(1):179–91.
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|
Lactoperoxidase (mg/L)4141 Shin K, Hayasawa H, Lonnerdal B. Purification and quantification of lactoperoxidase in human milk with use of immunoadsorbents with antibodies against recombinant human lactoperoxidase. Am J Clin Nutr 2001;73(5):984–9.
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|
|
0.77+0.38 |
Catalyzes the oxidation of thiocyanate from saliva, forming hypothiocyanate, which can kill both grampositive and gram-negative pathogenic bacteria3636 Lonnerdal B. Nutritional and physiologic significance of human milk proteins. Am J Clin Nutr 2003;77(6):1537S–43S.
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Mucin (μg/mL)3434 Mickleson KN, Moriarty KM. Immunoglobulin levels in human colostrum and milk. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 1982;1(3):381–4.
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|
|
554+52 |
Inhibition of enteric bacteria binding to intestinal cells99 Palmeira P, Carneiro-Sampaio M. Immunology of breast milk. Rev Assoc Med Bras 2016;62(6):584–93.
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|
Bile Salt-Stimulated Lipase (BSSL) (μg/mL)4242 Sha L, Zhou S, Xi Y, Li R, Li X. The level of bile salt-stimulated lipase in the milk of Chinese women and its association with maternal BMI. J Biomed Res 2019;34(2):122–8.
|
71.49±40.61 |
|
236.90+52.75 |
Binds to DC-SIGN receptor in dendritic cells and prevents its interaction with HIV-1, leading to the blocking of HIV-1 transfection of CD4+ T cells4343 Naarding MA, Dirac AM, Ludwig IS, Speijer D, Lindquist S, Vestman EL, et al. Bile salt-stimulated lipase from human milk binds DC-SIGN and inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transfer to CD4+ T cells. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2006;50(10):3367–74.
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Lactadherin (µg/mL)4444 Peterson JA, Hamosh M, Scallan CD, Ceriani RL, Henderson TR, Mehta NR, et al. Milk fat globule glycoproteins in human milk and in gastric aspirates of mother's milk-fed preterm infants. Pediatr Res 1998;44(4):499–506.
|
|
139 |
66+5 |
Present in the milk fat globule membrane; binds to human rotavirus, preventing viral attachment to host epithelial cells4545 Kvistgaard AS, Pallesen LT, Arias CF, Lopez S, Petersen TE, Heegaard CW, et al. Inhibitory effects of human and bovine milk constituents on rotavirus infections. J Dairy Sci 2004;87(12):4088–96.
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|
Lysozyme (µg/mL)1818 Trend S, Strunk T, Lloyd ML, Kok CH, Metcalfe J, Geddes DT, et al. Levels of innate immune factors in preterm and term mothers' breast milk during the 1st month postpartum. Br J Nutr 2016;115(7):1178–93.
|
81.7 |
81.9 |
84.4 |
Hydrolyzes bacterial walls from gram-positive bacteria and inner proteoglycan matrix in the membranes of gram-negative bacteria3636 Lonnerdal B. Nutritional and physiologic significance of human milk proteins. Am J Clin Nutr 2003;77(6):1537S–43S.
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|
Soluble CD14 (sCD14) (µg/mL)1818 Trend S, Strunk T, Lloyd ML, Kok CH, Metcalfe J, Geddes DT, et al. Levels of innate immune factors in preterm and term mothers' breast milk during the 1st month postpartum. Br J Nutr 2016;115(7):1178–93.
|
40.67 |
30.80 |
21.20 |
Immunomodulatory activity on the immune and inflammatory responses in the infant gut99 Palmeira P, Carneiro-Sampaio M. Immunology of breast milk. Rev Assoc Med Bras 2016;62(6):584–93.
|
|
Trefoil factor 3 (pmoL/L)4646 Vestergaard EM, Nexo E, Wendt A, Guthmann F. Trefoil factors inhuman milk. Early Hum Dev 2008;84(10):631–5.
|
1540 |
310 |
80 |
Downregulates anti-inflammatory cytokines and promotes human β-defensin expression in intestinal epithelial cells4747 Barrera GJ, Sanchez G, Gonzalez JE. Trefoil factor 3 isolated from human breast milk downregulates cytokines (IL8 and IL6) and promotes human beta defensin (hBD2 and hBD4) expression in intestinal epithelial cells HT-29. Bosn J Basic Med Sci 2012;12(4):256–64.
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|
Osteoprotegerin (nM/L)4848 Vidal K, van den Broek P, Lorget F, Donnet-Hughes A. Osteoprotegerin in human milk: a potential role in the regulation of bone metabolism and immune development. Pediatr Res 2004;55(6):1001–8.
|
2.8–40.6 |
0.7–39.9 |
2.9–32.1 |
Binds to TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) and induces caspase-dependent apoptosis, especially in Th1 cells, regulating the Th1/Th2 balance of the infant immune system99 Palmeira P, Carneiro-Sampaio M. Immunology of breast milk. Rev Assoc Med Bras 2016;62(6):584–93.
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Fatty acids
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Oleic acid (Omega-9) |
35% of total fat4949 Zhao P, Zhang S, Liu L, Pang X, Yang Y, Lu J, et al. Differences in the triacylglycerol and fatty acid compositions of human colostrum and mature milk. J Agric Food Chem 2018;66(17):4571–9.
|
|
(15.07 mg/g)2525 Dai X, Yuan T, Zhang X, Zhou Q, Bi H, Yu R, et al. Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) concentrations in human milk consumed by infants born at different gestational ages and the variations in concentration during lactation stages. Food Funct 2020;11(2):1869–80.
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Stimulates the synthesis of ROS5050 Ganapathy S. Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and immunity in infants. Indian Pediatr 2009;46(9):785–90.
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|
LC-PUFA – AA (Omega-6) |
26% of total fat4949 Zhao P, Zhang S, Liu L, Pang X, Yang Y, Lu J, et al. Differences in the triacylglycerol and fatty acid compositions of human colostrum and mature milk. J Agric Food Chem 2018;66(17):4571–9.
|
|
(5.62 mg/g)2525 Dai X, Yuan T, Zhang X, Zhou Q, Bi H, Yu R, et al. Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) concentrations in human milk consumed by infants born at different gestational ages and the variations in concentration during lactation stages. Food Funct 2020;11(2):1869–80.
|
Precursor of eicosanoids, promotes inflammatory processes by producing prostaglandins and leukotrienes, stimulates synthesis of ROS5050 Ganapathy S. Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and immunity in infants. Indian Pediatr 2009;46(9):785–90.
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|
LC-PUFA – EPA/DHA (Omega-3) |
0.6% of total fat4949 Zhao P, Zhang S, Liu L, Pang X, Yang Y, Lu J, et al. Differences in the triacylglycerol and fatty acid compositions of human colostrum and mature milk. J Agric Food Chem 2018;66(17):4571–9.
|
|
(0.89 mg/g)2525 Dai X, Yuan T, Zhang X, Zhou Q, Bi H, Yu R, et al. Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) concentrations in human milk consumed by infants born at different gestational ages and the variations in concentration during lactation stages. Food Funct 2020;11(2):1869–80.
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Inhibits the immune response, decreasing monocyte and neutrophil chemotaxis and the production of proinflammatory cytokines5050 Ganapathy S. Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and immunity in infants. Indian Pediatr 2009;46(9):785–90.
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Antimicrobial peptides
|
β-Defensin 1 (ng/mL)1818 Trend S, Strunk T, Lloyd ML, Kok CH, Metcalfe J, Geddes DT, et al. Levels of innate immune factors in preterm and term mothers' breast milk during the 1st month postpartum. Br J Nutr 2016;115(7):1178–93.
|
110.9 |
185.4 |
66.9 |
Promotes monocyte-derived dendritic cell maturation and inhibits their apoptosis; promotes neonatal CD4 T-cell proliferation and activation5151 Wu J, Gong RL, Hu QF, Chen XT, Zhao W, Chen TX. Immunoregulatory effect of human β-defensin 1 on neonatal cord blood monocyte-derived dendritic cells and T cells. Mol Immunol 2019;109:99–107.
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|
β-Defensin 2 (ng/mL)1818 Trend S, Strunk T, Lloyd ML, Kok CH, Metcalfe J, Geddes DT, et al. Levels of innate immune factors in preterm and term mothers' breast milk during the 1st month postpartum. Br J Nutr 2016;115(7):1178–93.
|
745.6 |
397.5 |
197.8 |
Antimicrobial activity against a range of bacteria, including common pathogens that cause infant diarrhea and gram-negative nosocomial bacteria5252 Baricelli J, Rocafull MA, Vazquez D, Bastidas B, Báez-Ramirez E, Thomas LE. β-defensin-2 in breast milk displays a broad antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria. J Pediatr (Rio J) 2015;91(1):36–43.
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|
α-Defensin-5 (pg/mL)1818 Trend S, Strunk T, Lloyd ML, Kok CH, Metcalfe J, Geddes DT, et al. Levels of innate immune factors in preterm and term mothers' breast milk during the 1st month postpartum. Br J Nutr 2016;115(7):1178–93.
|
78.13 |
78.13 |
78.13 |
Protects against gastrointestinal and systemic infections and participates in the development of the mucosal immune system; possible inhibitory effect against SARS-CoV-25353 Li D, Chen P, Shi T, Mehmood A, Qiu J. HD5 and LL-37 Inhibit SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 Binding to Human ACE2 by Molecular Simulation. Interdiscip Sci 2021;13 (4):766–77.,5454 Armogida SA, Yannaras NM, Melton AL, Srivastava MD. Identification and quantification of innate immune system mediators in human breast milk. Allergy Asthma Proc 2004;25(5):297–304.
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|
Cathelicidin-derived antimicrobial peptide (LL37) (pg/mL)1818 Trend S, Strunk T, Lloyd ML, Kok CH, Metcalfe J, Geddes DT, et al. Levels of innate immune factors in preterm and term mothers' breast milk during the 1st month postpartum. Br J Nutr 2016;115(7):1178–93.
|
390.63 |
390.63 |
390.63 |
Antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria; possible inhibitory effect against SARS-CoV-25353 Li D, Chen P, Shi T, Mehmood A, Qiu J. HD5 and LL-37 Inhibit SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 Binding to Human ACE2 by Molecular Simulation. Interdiscip Sci 2021;13 (4):766–77.,5555 Niyonsaba F, Iwabuchi K, Someya A, Hirata M, Matsuda H, Ogawa H, et al. A cathelicidin family of human antibacterial peptide LL-37 induces mast cell chemotaxis. Immunology 2002;106(1):20–6.
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Nonproteins
|
Nucleotide (µmoL/L)5656 Hodgkinson A, Wall C, Wang W, Szeto IM, Ye W, Day L. Nucleotides: an updated review of their concentration in breast milk. Nutr Res 2021;99:13–24.
|
16.7–292.0 |
16.6–208.1 |
10.2–240.0 |
Modulation of lymphocyte and NK-cell maturation, activation and proliferation, and immunoglobulin production; reduces enterobacteria and increases bifidobacterial counts in the fecal microbiota99 Palmeira P, Carneiro-Sampaio M. Immunology of breast milk. Rev Assoc Med Bras 2016;62(6):584–93.
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|
miRNA (miRNA-Let-7a, miRNA-30B and miRNA-378, respectively) (Log10 2−ΔΔCt)5757 Xi Y, Jiang X, Li R, Chen M, Song W, Li X. The levels of human milk microRNAs and their association with maternal weight characteristics. Eur J Clin Nutr 2016;70(4):445–9.
|
2.58±0.67, 4.05±0.61 and 4.64±0.69 |
|
2.39±0.62, 4.92±0.57 and 3.62±0.77 |
Regulation of development of monocyte and Treg cells; differentiation and maturation of B and T cells; proliferation of granulocytes5858 Carrillo-Lozano E, Sebastian-Valles F, Knott-Torcal C. Circulating microRNAs in breast milk and their potential impact on the infant. Nutrients 2020;12(10):3066.
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