Nutritional and physiologic significance of human milk proteins / 国际儿科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Breast milk is the normative standard for infant nutrition and contains a wide variety of proteins that contribute to its unique qualities.Bile salt-stimulated lipase and amylase assist in the digestion and utilization of micronutrients and macronutrients from the milk.Several proteins with antimicrobial activity,such as immunoglobulins,lactoferrin,k-casein,lysozyme and lactoperoxidase,are relatively resistant against proteolysis in the gastrointestinal tract and may,in intact or partially digested form,contribute to the defense of breastfed infants against pathogenic bacteria and viruses.Cytokines,colony stimulating factor and chemokine have immunomodulatory activities,whereas insulin-like growth factor,epidermal growth factor and peptides from caseins are likely to be involved in the development of the intestinal mucosa and other organs of newborns.In combination,breast-milk proteins assist in providing adequate nutrition to breastfed infants while simultaneously aiding in the defense against infection and facilitating optimal development of important physiologic functions in newborns.