title: beta-Glucuronidase and hyperbilirubinaemia in breast-fed and formula-fed babies.
abstract: Breast milk or formula milk and serum samples from 34 breast-fed babies, 15 formula-fed babies, and their mothers were examined at 3 and 21 days of neonatal age. Infant faecal samples were obtained on day 21 only. At both ages serum total bilirubin concentrations were significantly higher in breast-fed than in formula-fed infants. Beta-glucuronidase activity in formula milk was negligible while that in human milk was considerable. Day 21 faecal beta-glucuronidase was higher in the breast-fed babies. In the breast-fed babies, serum bilirubin levels were related to concentrations of beta-glucuronidase in breast milk on both days 3 and 21 and to levels of faecal beta-glucuronidase on day 21. In 4 additional babies whose feeds were temporarily changed from breast milk to formula milk because of hyperbilirubinaemia there was a striking decrease in faecal beta-glucuronidase activity coincident with a fall in serum bilirubin. Breast milk beta-glucuronidase seems to be an important factor in the neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia of breast-fed babies.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Gourley
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Arend
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005243:Feces / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000201:enzymology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005966:Glucuronidase; D001663:Bilirubin