Prolonged exclusive breast-feeding results in low serum concentrations of immunoglobulin G, A and M.
Serum levels of IgG, IgA and IgM were measured in 198 infants at ages 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months. By age 9 months 30 infants were still exclusively breast-fed; their IgG and IgM levels were significantly lower than those of infants weaned early to formula (before age 3.5 months). By 12 months 6 infants were still exclusively breast-fed; their IgA levels were by then also similarly lower. There was no significant difference in the number of infections experienced by these groups of infants. After 2 months on formula feeding, the IgG and IgM levels of the infants who were exclusively breast-fed for 9 months had caught up with the levels of the infants weaned early to formula. Only at 12 months of age prealbumin levels of the exclusively breast-fed infants showed a positive correlation to IgG and IgA levels; no correlation was found between immunoglobulin levels and levels of serum iron and zinc.
D001942:Breast Feeding; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism*; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D013997:Time Factors
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M