Macromolecular absorption in infants with infantile colic.
Intestinal absorption of macromolecules, using human alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA) as a marker, was studied in breast-fed and formula-fed infants with infantile colic. Serum samples taken at 30 and 60 min after an intake of human milk were analyzed for alpha-LA by a competitive radioimmunoassay technique. Breast-fed infants with infantile colic had significantly higher s-alpha-LA levels compared with age-matched breast-fed control infants 0-1 month of age: median value 926 micrograms alpha-LA/l serum/l human milk/kg bodyweight (n = 11) versus 150 (n = 34); 1-2 months of age: 173 (n = 22) versus 31 (n = 16); 2-3 months of age: 132 (n = 8) versus 11 (n = 16). Similarly, formula-fed colicky infants had significantly higher s-alpha-LA levels than age-matched formula-fed control infants 1-2 months of age: median value 126 (n = 12) versus less than 10 (n = 14); 2-3 months of age: 156 (n = 11) versus less than 10 (n = 10). The increased absorption of the macromolecule human alpha-lactalbumin in infantile colic suggests that the gut mucosa is affected in infants with infantile colic.
Lothe
L
L
Department of Pediatrics, Malmö General Hospital, University of Lund, Sweden.
Lindberg
T
T
Jakobsson
I
I
D000818:Animals; D003085:Colic / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology*; D007768:Lactalbumin / Q000378:metabolism; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000378:metabolism
D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D007768:Lactalbumin