title: Delivery and feeding mode affects fecal calprotectin levels in infants <7months old.
abstract: Elevated fecal calprotectin (FC) is a non-invasive marker of inflammation indicating bowel disease. However, healthy infants have displayed high FC levels, with large variation. We sought to determine what factors might affect FC levels in children <6months old.
  
  
  
  We recruited 133 healthy infants aged 0-6months from four Korean day care centers. Stool samples were analyzed by immunosorbent assay. All infants completed a questionnaire related to clinical characteristics including birth and feeding history.
  
  
  
  The mean FC concentration of all of participants was 237.40μg/g (range 11.5-1330.6μg/g). FC levels between 0 and 6months reduced with increasing age and the differences were statistically significant. The mean FC value according to feeding mode was 354.67μg/g for those fed breast milk and 149.44μg/g for those fed formula milk (p<0.001). Mean FC values were 319.69μg/g vs. 130.97μg/g for normal spontaneous vaginal delivery (NSVD) vs. caesarean section births, respectively (p<0.001). In addition, delivery mode affected the FC level at 0-6months regardless of feeding mode.
  
  
  
  The FC levels of infants aged 0-6months reduced with age and were higher than the normal levels observed in healthy older infants. The FC value at <7months was higher in infants who were fed breast milk and born by NSVD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Bundang CHA Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yoo Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Bundang CHA Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chae-Yeon
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Bundang CHA Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, South Korea.
authors.forename: You Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Bundang CHA Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, South Korea. Electronic address: jinped@cha.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Su Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex