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Human milk glycosaminoglycans: the state of the art and future perspectives

Giovanni Valentino Coppa1, Orazio Gabrielli, Enrico Bertino

  • 1Pediatric Division, Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ospedali Riuniti, Presidio Salesi, Via Toti 4, Ancona, 60121, Italy. g.v.coppa@univpm.it

Italian Journal of Pediatrics
|January 17, 2013
PubMed

Recently, a complete characterization and detailed evaluation of the glycosaminoglycans of human milk were performed. The total glycosaminoglycans content in milk from healthy mothers having delivered term or preterm newborns showed a constant pattern which was essentially composed of two main polysaccharides: chondroitin sulfate (60-70%) and heparin (30-40%). Moreover, considerable variations of glycosaminoglycans concentration were found during the first month of lactation, the highest values being present in colostrum compared to mature milk. Metabolism and potential biological functions of human milk glycosaminoglycans are hypothesized and future studies are encouraged.

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