Changes in the growth-promoting activity of human milk during lactation

ABSTRACT Summary: We measured the concentrations of protein, insulin, and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in human milk from mothers delivering at term. Samples were obtained from d 1

(colostrum) to d 42 after birth. Human colostrum contains very high concentrations of protein [83.7 ± 7.4 g/1 (SEM)], insulin (3.75 ± 0.88 nM), and EGF (53.9 ± 6.9 nM). Similar

concentrations have been measured in prebirth milk. Insulin, EGF, and protein in milk decline rapidly during the first few days of lactation but remain constant thereafter. Although the

concentrations of insulin and EGF in mature milk are only 10% of those in colostrum, they are considerably higher than in serum. We also showed that human milk has a growth-promoting

activity in cultured cells, causing a stimulation of protein synthesis in L6 myoblasts and 3T3-L1 fibroblasts and an increase in DNA synthesis in L6 cells and T47D breast cancer cells. This

mitogenic activity declines as lactation progresses, with a similar time-course to the fall in insulin and EGF; however, the cell lines used here are not responsive to either of these two

growth factors in the range of concentrations found in milk. This indicates that human milk also contains high concentrations of additional, unidentified growth factors. The occurrence of

high concentrations of growth factors in milk suggests that they may be important for the proliferation and differentiation of infant tissues. SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS HORMONAL

REGULATION OF MAMMARY GLAND DEVELOPMENT AND LACTATION Article 03 October 2022 THE CELLULAR AND IMMUNOLOGICAL DYNAMICS OF EARLY AND TRANSITIONAL HUMAN MILK Article Open access 18 May 2023

LONGITUDINAL CHANGES IN HUMAN MILK LACTOFERRIN DURING THE FIRST YEAR: A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY Article 09 May 2025 ARTICLE PDF AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * CSJRO Division

of Human Nutrition, Adelaide, 5000, S.A., Australia Leanna C Read, Faye M Upton, Geoffrey L Francis & F John Ballard * Departments of Biochemistry, University of Adelaide, Adelaide,

5000, S.A., Australia John C Wallace * Pediatrics, Adelaide, 5000, S.A., Australia Geoffrey W Dahlenberg Authors * Leanna C Read View author publications You can also search for this author

inPubMed Google Scholar * Faye M Upton View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Geoffrey L Francis View author publications You can also search

for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * John C Wallace View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Geoffrey W Dahlenberg View author publications

You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * F John Ballard View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS

Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Read, L., Upton, F., Francis, G. _et al._ Changes in the Growth-Promoting Activity of Human Milk during Lactation. _Pediatr Res_

18, 133–139 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198402000-00004 Download citation * Issue Date: 01 February 1984 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198402000-00004 SHARE THIS

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