title: Preliminary study on DNA damage in non breast-fed infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are many advantages of human milk for infants, including protection against cancer development and the advantages have been emphasized in several studies. In this study, infants fed by human milk has been compared with those fed by cow's milk concerning DNA damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  The level of genetic damage in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of infants who were fed mainly by cow's milk and breast milk has been studied by sister chromatid exchange (SCE) analysis, which is a sensitive measurement of chromosomal damage. Each group consisted of 30 infants, whose ages ranged from 9 to 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant increase (P < 0.0001) was found in the frequencies of SCE of infants not breast-fed (n = 30, mean SCE/cell +/- SD: 8.66 +/- 1.15) compared to those who were breast-fed (n = 30, mean SCE/cell +/- SD: 4.93 +/- 0.82).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, there has been no published study investigating SCE ratio regarding DNA damage in infants not breast-fed. Molecular mechanism of DNA damage caused by the absence of human milk protection is a subject of future investigations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gülhane Military Medical Academy and Medical School, Ankara, Turkey. rusenmd@excite.com
authors.forename: Ruşen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dündaröz
authors.forename: Halil Ibrahim
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ulucan
authors.forename: Volkan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baltaci
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Denli
authors.forename: Erdal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gökçay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004249:DNA Damage; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008892:Milk; D008895:Milk, Human; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange