Characterization of Breast Milk Received by Infants with Gross Blood in Stools

Vol. 87, No. 1, 2005

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Original Paper

Characterization of Breast Milk Received by Infants with Gross Blood in Stools
Kirsi Laitinen^{a, b}, Taina Arvola^c, Eeva Moilanen^d, Anna-Maija Lampi^e, Tarja Ruuska^c, Erika Isolauri^a

^aDepartment of Paediatrics, Turku University Central Hospital, and
^bDepartment of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, University of Turku, Turku;
^cPaediatric Research Centre, Tampere University Hospital, and
^dThe Immunopharmacological Research Group, Medical School, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, and
^eDepartment of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

Address of Corresponding Author

Biol Neonate 2005;87:66-72 (DOI: 10.1159/000081955)

Key Words

Fatty acids
Eicosanoids
Cytokines
Human milk
Logistic regression analysis

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to ascertain factors that might be protective of the appearance of gross blood in the stools of breast-fed infants. Methods: Logistic regression models were formed to search for variables possibly explaining the condition. In addition to the analyzed breast milk factors, mother's allergic disease was introduced into the models to control for its possible confounding effect. The breast milk samples, collected from mothers of infants with gross blood in stools (n = 23) and from mothers of healthy age-matched infants (n = 71), were analyzed for concentrations of transforming growth factor- beta ₂, tumor necrosis factor- alpha , interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, prostaglandin (PG)E₂, cysteinyl leukotrienes (Cys-LTs) and fatty acid composition. Results and Conclusions: Increase in the concentrations of PGE₂ and Cys-LTs in the breast milk together with mother's allergic disease reduced the likelihood of gross blood in stools in the breast-fed infant. The results suggest that no single factor, but a combination of immunomodulatory factors may protect the child from gross blood in the stools of breast-fed infants. Allergic disease was not a risk factor as mother's allergic disease appeared to counterbalance the gross blood in stools. Due to the preliminary nature of the study, the results need to be verified in a larger setting. The challenge for the future lies in identifying of such active compounds for dietary modification to enforce particularly the properties of the breast milk which are immunoprotective for the infant and to reduce the likelihood of intestinal disorders in at risk infants.

Author Contacts

Kirsi Laitinen, PhD
University of Turku
Itäinen Pitkäkatu 4A, 5th floor
20520 Turku (Finland)
Tel. +358 2 333 6063, Fax+358 2 333 6862, E-Mail kirsi.laitinen@utu.fi

Article Information

Received: March 19, 2003
Accepted after revision: September 3, 2004
Published online: November 9, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 31

Medline Abstract (ID 15542928)

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