title: Chicken extract affects colostrum protein compositions in lactating women.
abstract: This study investigated the effect of supplementation with chicken extract on plasma and colostrum protein compositions in lactating women. Thirty healthy pregnant women were evenly divided into the control (n = 15) or chicken extract (CE) group (n = 15). The CE group was given one bottle (70 mL/bottle) of chicken extract three times a day to provide 18 g protein from the 37th week pregnancy to 3 days postpartum. All women in the CE group consumed chicken extract at least for 2 weeks (18 +/- 5 days). High protein supplement was restricted in the control group. Blood samples were collected during the 37th week pregnancy and 3-day postpartum, and milk was collected during 3-day postpartum. The results showed that plasma total protein was significantly lower by 14% in the CE group compared with that in the control group during 3-day postpartum. Plasma epidermal growth factor (EGF) significantly elevated by 236% during 3-day postpartum compared with those during the 37th week pregnancy in the CE group. The levels of lactoferrin, EGF, and transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-beta2) in colostrum significantly increased by 34%, 62%, and 196%, respectively, in the CE group compared with those in the control group. However, the levels of total protein, casein, lactalbumin, and secretory immunoglobulin A in colostrum did not significantly differ between two groups. Therefore, supplementation with chicken extract increased colostrum levels of lactoferrin, EGF, and TGF-beta2, which are important for the growth and immune functions of the infants, in lactating women.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan 110.
authors.forename: Jane C-J
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Hsu-Ping
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Ching Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Yi-Yi
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Heng Kien
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Au
authors.forename: Jiun-Rong
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chin-Fa
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001824:Body Constitution; D002645:Chickens; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D008894:Milk Proteins; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor