Lactoferrin levels in mother's milk

ABSTRACT

This study was aimed to see the significance of Lactoferrin in human breast milk among lactating mothers of healthy and sick babies. This study was conducted at pathology and paediatrics departments of Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences Nawabshan, Shaheed Benazirabad between Jan 2011 to Dec 2011. Cross sectional study. Lactoferin levels in breast milk of 356 mothers of healthy babies were estimated and similarly lactoferrin levels in breast milk of 318 lactating mothers of sick babies were estimated and these results were analyzed. The mean lectoferrin level in breast milk of 356 lactating mothers of healthy babies was 9.37 mg/ml and the mean lactoferrin level in breast milk of 318 mothers nursing sick babies was 3.73 mg/ml. There is decrease in lactoferrin levels of lactating mothers of sick babies in their mature milk, which could account for the susceptibility of their babies to infection