Characterization of breast milk received by infants with gross blood in stools.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to ascertain factors that might be protective of the appearance of gross blood in the stools of breast-fed infants.


METHODS
Logistic regression models were formed to search for variables possibly explaining the condition. In addition to the analyzed breast milk factors, mother's allergic disease was introduced into the models to control for its possible confounding effect. The breast milk samples, collected from mothers of infants with gross blood in stools (n = 23) and from mothers of healthy age-matched infants (n = 71), were analyzed for concentrations of transforming growth factor-beta2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, prostaglandin (PG)E2, cysteinyl leukotrienes (Cys-LTs) and fatty acid composition.


CONCLUSIONS
Increase in the concentrations of PGE2 and Cys-LTs in the breast milk together with mother's allergic disease reduced the likelihood of gross blood in stools in the breast-fed infant. The results suggest that no single factor, but a combination of immunomodulatory factors may protect the child from gross blood in the stools of breast-fed infants. Allergic disease was not a risk factor as mother's allergic disease appeared to counterbalance the gross blood in stools. Due to the preliminary nature of the study, the results need to be verified in a larger setting. The challenge for the future lies in identifying of such active compounds for dietary modification to enforce particularly the properties of the breast milk which are immunoprotective for the infant and to reduce the likelihood of intestinal disorders in at risk infants.
Laitinen
Kirsi
K
Department of Paediatrics, Turku University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland. kirsi.laitinen@utu.fi
Arvola
Taina
T
Moilanen
Eeva
E
Lampi
Anna-Maija
AM
Ruuska
Tarja
T
Isolauri
Erika
E
D001769:Blood; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003092:Colitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D003545:Cysteine / Q000032:analysis; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000032:analysis; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000032:analysis; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D005227:Fatty Acids; D015289:Leukotrienes; D008055:Lipids; C509041:TGFB2 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C112381:cysteinyl-leukotriene; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D015232:Dinoprostone; D003545:Cysteine