Diabetes induced immunological and biochemical changes in human colostrum.
OBJECTIVE
This article describes the changes and relationships between biochemical and immunological parameters in the colostrum and serum of diabetic women.


METHODS
Colostrum and blood samples were collected from 30 diabetic and 15 normoglycaemic women. Glucose, total protein, antibody, complement proteins (C3 and C4), fat and calorie content, amylase, lipase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined.


RESULTS
Glucose was higher in both the colostrum and serum of diabetic mothers compared to that of their normoglycaemic counterparts. In both groups, total protein was higher in colostrum than in serum. IgA and IgG were lower in the colostrum of hyperglycaemic mothers, whereas IgM did not vary between the groups. Colostral C3 protein was significantly lower in diabetic mothers, but colostral C4 protein was similar between normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic mothers. Fat content was lower in the colostrum of the diabetic mothers, although calorie content did not vary between the groups. Amylase was lower in colostrum than in serum in both groups. Lipase was higher in the colostrum and serum of diabetic mothers. Colostral SOD was similar between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results support the hypothesis that the colostrum of diabetic mothers suffers biochemical and immunological alterations that affect the levels of its components.
Post Graduate Program in Gynecology, Obstetrics and Mastology of Botucatu Medical School, Sao Paulo State University/Unesp, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
G
G
Morceli
E L
EL
França
V B
VB
Magalhães
D C
DC
Damasceno
I M P
IM
Calderon
A C
AC
Honorio-França
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005223:Fats / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008049:Lipase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D001786:Blood Glucose; D003176:Complement C3; D005223:Fats; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011506:Proteins; D008049:Lipase; D000681:Amylases; D005947:Glucose