Title: Determinants of variations in breast milk protective factor concentrations of rural Gambian mothers.

POPLINE Document Number: 017019

Author(s):

Prentice A
Prentice AM
Cole TJ
Whitehead RG

Source citation:

Archives of Disease in Childhood, 1983 Jul;58(7):518-22.

Abstract:

The concentrations of 7 immunoproteins (IgA, IgG, IgM, the complement components C3 and C4, lactoferrin, and lysozyme) in the breastmilk of 152 rural west African women were measured as part of a semilongitudinal study to assess their importance in infant health. Each mother maintained a characteristic level of production of immunoproteins relative to other mothers, and the concentration of each immunoprotein within each woman was correlated positively with the others. Parity was the major determinant of ranking and mothers of parity 1 and 2 produced the highest concentrations of immunoproteins. Except for lysozyme, infants' intake of these protective factors decreased in early lactation, but infants ages 1-2 still received substantial amounts. The daily intakes by Gambian infants were similar to or higher than those of infants in Cambridge, England. A marked seasonal increase in infant morbidity was not accompanied by an increase in the concentration of protective factors in mothers' milk. (author's)

Keywords:

Gambia
Rural Population
Human Milk
Seasonal Variation
Socioeconomic Factors
Parity
Analysis
Developing Countries
Africa, Western
Africa, Sub Saharan
Africa
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Lactation
Maternal Physiology
Physiology
Biology
Population Dynamics
Economic Factors
Fertility Measurements
Fertility
Research Methodology