Polyamine Oxidase and Diamine Oxidase Activities in Human Milk during the First Month of Lactation.
OBJECTIVE
Human milk (HM) is the ideal food for all newborns and infants. Apart from various bioactive compounds, including cytokines, antibodies, hormones, vitamines, it also contains polyamines, such as spermine (Sp), spermidine (Spd) and putrescine (Put).


OBJECTIVE
The present study investigated polyamine metabolism in colostrum and mature human milk by measuring the polyamine oxidase (PAO) and diamine oxidase (DAO) enzyme activities, which are necessary for polyamine catabolism, as well as by determining the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, the final product of polyamine biodegradation.


METHODS
The PAO, DAO activity and MDA levels were quantified in colostrum (1st and 2nd day) as well as in mature human milk, 30th day of lactation.


RESULTS
We found the steady increase of PAO activity and steady decrease of DAO activity and MDA levels during first month of lactation.


CONCLUSIONS
Since the products of PAO activity such as, amino aldehydes and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) might have potential antimicrobial effects, promoting the oxidative stress, it is likely that human milk PAO throughout the lactation period, contributes to the protective effects of human milk.
Department of Hygiene, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Nis, Serbia.
Ljiljana
L
Bjelakovic
Gordana
G
Kocic
Bojko
B
Bjelakovic
Stevo
S
Najman
Dusica
D
Stojanović
Marina
M
Jonovic
Zoran
Z
Pop-Trajkovic