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Is orally-derived epidermal growth factor beneficial following premature birth or intestinal resection?
Insights
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) in breast milk may aid infant growth, especially for premature babies. Studies show higher EGF in preterm milk and its role in accelerating intestinal regrowth after resection in rats.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Developmental Biology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a key component of human milk.
- Infant growth can be compromised in conditions like premature birth and intestinal resection.
- EGF's role in supporting critical tissue development is under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of EGF in human milk for premature infants.
- To examine EGF's effect on intestinal regrowth following resection in a rat model.
Main Methods:
- Compared EGF concentrations in milk from mothers of premature infants versus term infants.
- Administered EGF to weanling rats post-intestinal resection and assessed intestinal growth parameters.
Main Results:
- Mothers of premature infants exhibit higher milk EGF concentrations, potentially a compensatory mechanism.
- Dietary EGF significantly accelerated intestinal growth, including wet weight, protein, and sucrase activity, in rats after 50% small intestine resection.
Conclusions:
- Elevated milk EGF in preterm births may support accelerated infant growth.
- EGF administration demonstrates potential therapeutic benefits for promoting intestinal adaptation and growth in infants with compromised development or following surgery.
Abstract:
Epidermal growth factor (EGF), a major growth factor in human milk, may stimulate growth and development of crucial infant tissues, particularly in conditions where the infant's growth is compromised. Here, we provide evidence of a role for EGF in two such conditions, premature birth and intestinal resection. Compared with women delivering at term, mothers of premature infants produce milk containing higher concentrations of EGF, an effect that is probably maintained throughout lactation. The increased EGF in milk could not be accounted for by a decrease in the volume of milk production or by events surrounding birth, but may instead represent a maternal compensatory mechanism to accelerate growth in pre-term infants. A role for EGF in stimulating adaptive intestinal regrowth following gut resection was identified using weanling rats. Following removal of 50% of the small intestine of weanling rats, inclusion of EGF (20 micrograms/100 g per day) in the diet (S-26 infant formula) significantly accelerated intestinal growth, as determined by wet weight, protein and sucrase activity per unit length. These studies support the concept that administration of EGF could prove beneficial to infants in which crucial, EGF-responsive tissues are poorly developed, e.g. following premature birth or intestinal resection.