Longitudinal changes in the bioactive proteins in human milk of the Chinese population: A systematic review

This systematic review aimed at investigating longitudinal changes in human milk bioactive protein concentrations in Chinese population. Both English and Chinese databases were searched. The data were pooled into six defined lactation stages. Weighted means of protein concentrations in each stage and the statistical significance of means of different lactation stages were calculated. The data of 11 bioactive proteins were retrieved. Concentrations of sIgA, IgM, and IgG decreased sharply during the first 14 days of lactation. The levels of α-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, and β-casein also decreased throughout lactation. Conversely, lysozyme levels increased over lactation. The changing patterns of the serum albumin, osteopontin, and bile salt-stimulated lipase (BSSL) were not conclusive. This study represents the most comprehensive summary of bioactive proteins in Chinese human milk. In the future, mass spectrometry-based analysis of human milk proteomics may be used to investigate the longitudinal changes of many more bioactive proteins.