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Is dietary epidermal growth factor absorbed by premature human infants?
S M Gale1, L C Read, C George-Nascimento
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Adelaide, Australia.
Insights
Urinary epidermal growth factor (EGF) levels were higher in breastfed infants by 13-17 days after birth. This suggests that EGF from breast milk crosses the infant gut into circulation.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
Background:
- Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) is crucial for infant development.
- Breast milk is a rich source of EGF, unlike formula or parenteral nutrition.
- The gastrointestinal absorption of EGF in neonates is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare urinary EGF levels in breastfed infants versus those fed EGF-poor diets.
- To investigate the hypothesis of EGF gastrointestinal absorption in suckling infants.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of urinary EGF levels in three infant groups: breast milk, bovine milk-based formula, and total parenteral nutrition.
- Longitudinal sampling at 5-10 days and 13-17 days after birth.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in urinary EGF output between groups at 5-10 days.
- Significantly higher urinary EGF output in breastfed infants by 13-17 days compared to the other two groups.
- This difference indicates potential gastrointestinal absorption of dietary EGF.
Conclusions:
- Urinary EGF levels increase in breastfed infants over time, suggesting absorption.
- Dietary EGF from breast milk likely crosses the infant gastrointestinal tract into circulation.
- Findings support the role of breast milk EGF in infant physiology.
Abstract:
Urinary epidermal growth factor (EGF) levels from infants receiving breast milk, a rich source of the growth factor, were compared with the levels excreted by infants receiving bovine milk based formulae or total parenteral nutrition that contains very little EGF. Although at 5-10 days after birth there was no significant difference in the urinary EGF output by the three groups of infants, by 13-17 days the urinary EGF output by breastfed infants was higher than by infants fed the two EGF-poor diets. These latter results are consistent with the hypothesis that EGF crosses the gastrointestinal wall to enter the general circulation in the suckling infant.