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Published on: December 16, 2015
Polyamines in human and rat milk and in infant formulas
P F Pollack1, O Koldovskỳ, K Nishioka
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical School, Houston.
Insights
Human milk contains essential polyamines like putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, crucial for infant development. These compounds are vital for the intestinal mucosa in suckling animals.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Human Physiology
- Animal Science
Background:
- Polyamines are critical for cell proliferation and differentiation.
- Enteral administration of polyamines impacts both suckling and adult animals.
- Human milk composition changes throughout lactation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify polyamine levels (putrescine, spermidine, spermine) in human milk.
- To compare polyamine concentrations in human milk with those in rat milk and infant formulas.
- To investigate milk as a delivery vehicle for polyamines to the infant gut.
Main Methods:
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for polyamine detection and quantification.
- Human milk samples were collected from the first week to 4 months postpartum.
- Rat milk and infant formula samples were analyzed for polyamine content.
Main Results:
- Putrescine, spermidine, and spermine were detected in human milk, with concentrations varying by lactation stage.
- Polyamine levels in infant formulas depended on protein source and concentration.
- Rat milk contained significantly higher polyamine concentrations than human milk, especially spermidine.
Conclusions:
- Human milk is a significant source of dietary polyamines for infants.
- Milk plays a role in delivering polyamines to the intestinal mucosa of suckling animals.
- Differences in polyamine content exist between human milk, animal milk, and infant formulas.
Abstract:
Polyamines are ubiquitous compounds known to be involved in cell proliferation and differentiation in many tissues. Enteral administration of these compounds has been shown to produce effects in suckling and adult animals. Using HPLC techniques, we verified the presence of putrescine, spermidine, and spermine in human milk and quantitated their concentration in samples collected from the first week up to 4 mo of lactation. Mean values of these compounds ranged (per liter) from 0 to 615 nmol putrescine, from 73 to 3512 nmol spermidine, and from 722 to 4458 nmol spermine. Polyamine concentrations in infant formulas were dependent on the protein source, the particular polyamine, and the protein concentration of the formula. Concentrations of these three compounds in rat milk over the first 3 wk of lactation were higher than in human milk, with spermidine being the polyamine most elevated compared with human milk (almost 20-fold higher). An artificial formula used for the rearing of suckling rats contained trace to immeasurable amounts of polyamines. Our study identifies milk as one vehicle for polyamine delivery to the intestinal mucosa of suckling animals.
