Blood galactose and glucose levels in mothers, cord blood, and 48-hour-old breast-fed full-term infants.
BACKGROUND
Although galactose is an important component in human lactose, there are few reports of its role in the newborn metabolism.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship of blood galactose and glucose levels in mothers, cord blood, and breast-fed full-term newborn infants.


METHODS
Maternal and cord vein blood samples were obtained from 27 pregnant women at delivery, and from their breast-fed, full-term newborns 48 h later. Galactose and glucose were determined by HPLC. Statistical analysis used ANOVA and Pearson correlation with p < 0.05.


RESULTS
Maternal galactose concentrations (0.08 +/- 0.03 mmol/l) were similar to cord blood galactose (0.07 +/- 0.03 mmol/l; p = 0.129). However, newborn blood galactose (0.05 +/- 0.02 mmol/l) was significantly lower than both cord (p = 0.042) and maternal blood (p = 0.002). Maternal blood glucose levels (4.72 +/- 0.86 mmol/l) were higher than cord blood (3.98 +/- 0.57 mmol/l; p < 0.001), and cord blood concentrations were higher than newborn blood levels (3.00 +/- 0.56 mmol/l; p < 0.001); all values expressed as mean +/- SD. Significant correlation was only seen between maternal and cord blood galactose levels (r = 0.67; p < 0.001) and glucose levels (r = 0.38; p = 0.047).


CONCLUSIONS
The association and similarity between maternal and cord blood galactose levels suggest that the fetus is dependent on maternal galactose. In contrast, the lower galactose levels in newborn infants and a lack of association between both suggest self-regulation and a dependence on galactose ingestion.
Bossolan
Grasiela
G
Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Botucatu School of Medicine, UNESP São Paulo State University, São Paulo, Brazil.
Trindade
Cleide E P
CE
Barreiros
Rodrigo Crespo
RC
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005690:Galactose / Q000097:blood*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D047929:Term Birth / Q000097:blood*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005690:Galactose