title: Assay of ghrelin concentration in infant formulas and breast milk.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test if total ghrelin is present in infant formulas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a radioimmunoassay, we measured total ghrelin concentrations in 19 samples of commercial infant formulas and in 20 samples of human milk. We also determined ghrelin concentration in the serum of infants and lactating mothers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ghrelin concentrations were significantly higher in artificial milk (2007.1 ± 1725.36 pg/mL) than in human milk (828.17 ± 323.32 pg/mL) (P = 0.005). The mean ghrelin concentration in infant serum (n = 56) was 1115.86 ± 42.89 pg/mL, and was significantly higher (P = 0.023) in formula-fed infants (1247.93 ± 328.07 pg/mL) than in breast-fed infants (1045.7 ± 263.38 pg/mL). The mean serum ghrelin concentration (mean ± SD) in lactating mothers (n = 20) was 1319.18 ± 140.18 pg/mL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence that total ghrelin is present in infant formulas. This finding raises diverse questions regarding the uptake, absorption and metabolic effects of this hormone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Piazza Polonia 94-10126, Turin, Italy. francesco.savino@unito.it
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Savino
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petrucci
authors.forename: Maria Maddalena
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lupica
authors.forename: Giuliana Eva
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Nanni
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oggero
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000737:chemistry*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin