Variation of major neutral oligosaccharides levels in human colostrum.
OBJECTIVE
Human colostrum is known to be important for the protection of infants against infection by pathogenic microorganisms. This protection is thought to be due, partially, to various neutral and acidic oligosaccharides that are present in colostrum and milk. However, the concentrations of each of the oligosaccharide of human colostrum have not yet been determined. The aim of this present study was to determine the concentration of each of the major neutral oligosaccharide for three consecutive days from the start of lactation.


METHODS
We analyzed the level of each neutral oligosaccharide in human colostrum, for three consecutive days from the start of lactation, obtained from 12 healthy Japanese women (ranging in age from 21 to 35 years; primipara 6 and multipara 6). The ABO blood groups of the donors were determined: A, three; B, three; O, five; AB, one. The determined human milk oligosaccharides were 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL), 3-fucosyllactose (3-FL), lactodifucotetraose (LDFT), lacto-N-tetraose (LNT), lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT), three lacto-N-fucopentaose (LNFP I, II and III) and two lacto-N-difucohexaose (LNFDH I and II) using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with two derivatization techniques.


RESULTS
The concentrations of 2'-FL and LDFT in colostrum on day 1 were significantly higher than those on days 2 and 3 (P<0.05). An increase in LNT was observed on day 3 compared with day 1 (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These changes in concentrations of 2'-FL, LDFT and LNT may reflect the requirements for prebiotics and anti-infection agents by human infants during early lactation.
Asakuma
S
S
Graduate School of Food Hygiene, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan.
Urashima
T
T
Akahori
M
M
Obayashi
H
H
Nakamura
T
T
Kimura
K
K
Watanabe
Y
Y
Arai
I
I
Sanai
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000032:analysis*; D010298:Parity; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors
D009844:Oligosaccharides