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Related Experiment Videos

Does breast feeding influence liver biochemistry?

Marianne Hørby Jørgensen1, Peter Ott, Anders Juul

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Hillerød Hospital, Hillerød, Denmark.

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|October 29, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Breastfeeding may elevate aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and bilirubin in infants, but not indicate liver disease. Human milk factors may induce hepatocytes, supported by higher albumin and AST-IGF-I association.

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Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Neonatal Nutrition
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Breastfed infants have higher hyperbilirubinemia risk than formula-fed infants.
  • Early feeding practices may influence infant liver biochemistry.
  • Understanding feeding mode's impact on liver enzymes is crucial for infant health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of feeding mode on liver biochemistry in healthy term infants.
  • To compare liver enzyme levels between breast-fed and formula-fed infants.
  • To explore potential factors influencing liver biochemistry based on diet.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of healthy term infants with monthly feeding mode questionnaires.
  • Blood samples collected at 2, 6, and 9 months of age.

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  • Assessed liver biochemistry (albumin, alkaline phosphatase, lactic dehydrogenase, AST, bilirubin), IGF-I, and IGFBP-3.

    • Main Results:

    • Higher mean AST and bilirubin levels observed in breast-fed infants at 2 and 6 months.
    • Elevated mean albumin levels in breast-fed infants at 2 months.
    • No significant differences in alkaline phosphatase, IGF-I, IGFBP-3, or lactic dehydrogenase between groups; AST correlated positively with IGF-I at 2 months.

    Conclusions:

    • Elevated AST in breast-fed infants is unlikely due to CMV, vitamin K deficiency, or macromolecular AST, as no other liver disease signs were present.
    • The study speculates that factors in human milk may induce hepatocytes, leading to higher AST levels.
    • Higher albumin and the AST-IGF-I association support the hypothesis of hepatocyte induction by human milk components.