[Secretory immunoglobulin A in human milk and infants' feces at 1-4 months after delivery].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the concentration of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) in human milk at 1, 2, 3 and 4 months after delivery and in infants' feces in the same period and find out the effect of milk on the content of SIgA in infants' intestine.


METHODS
20 women and 12 breast feeding infants and 13 formula feeding infants were studied, and milk and infants' feces were collected at 1, 2, 3 and 4 months after delivery, respectively. The concentrations of SIgA in milk and feces were determined by radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
No apparent changes in the concentration of SIgA were found in human milk and feces from breast feeding and formula feeding infants at 1-4 months after delivery, but the concentration of fecal SIgA in breast feeding infants was significantly higher than that in the formula feeding infants, during the first 4 months after birth.


CONCLUSIONS
Human milk can provide a large amount of SIgA for infants. We conclude from these data that human milk is beneficial in protecting the immunological function of infants digestive tract.
Wang
F
F
First Affiliated Hospital, Third Military Medical College, Chongqing.
Shi
C
C
D001942:Breast Feeding; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000378:metabolism*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory