Association between stress-related substances in saliva and immune substances in breast milk in puerperae.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the association between biochemical parameters of stress in puerperae and immune substances in breast milk.


METHODS
The participants were 22 mothers 2 weeks after delivery, with normal pregnancy/delivery and a normal puerperal course. We measured the levels of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and cortisol in saliva and the level of SIgA and the leukocyte count in breast milk and investigated their association.


RESULTS
There was a positive correlation between the salivary and breast milk levels of SIgA (r = .536, p < .05). However, there were no correlations among the salivary level of cortisol and the level of SIgA and leukocyte count in breast milk.


CONCLUSIONS
The only association found in our study was between the salivary and breast milk SIgA. The lack of association among SIgA and cortisol may be related to a variety of factors such as production site, diurnal rhythms, and the interval between stress stimulation in mothers and the response of the biomarker.
Kawano
Atsuko
A
Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1-D, Tennodai Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. aatsuko313@hotmail.com
Emori
Yoko
Y
Miyagawa
Sachiyo
S
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D006854:Hydrocortisone