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Endocrine and metabolic response in the human newborn to first feed of breast milk
Insights
The first breast milk feeding in newborns stimulates key hormones like insulin and growth hormone, showing hormonal systems are active at birth. This initial feed also increases blood glucose levels in infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic studies
Background:
- Infant feeding practices
- Hormonal regulation in newborns
- Metabolic adaptation post-birth
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hormonal and metabolic effects of the first breast milk feed in neonates.
- To determine which hormone systems are active and responsive in infants shortly after birth.
Main Methods:
- Studied 12 infants aged 4-6 hours.
- Measured blood glucose, lactate, pyruvate, alanine, and ketone bodies.
- Assessed plasma levels of insulin, glucagon, growth hormone, gastrin, enteroglucagon, and gastric inhibitory peptide before and after feeding.
Main Results:
- Blood glucose levels increased post-feeding.
- No significant changes observed in lactate, pyruvate, alanine, or ketone bodies.
- Plasma concentrations of insulin, growth hormone, gastrin, and enteroglucagon rose after the feed.
- Plasma glucagon and gastric inhibitory peptide levels remained unchanged.
Conclusions:
- The first breast milk feed elicits a significant hormonal response in newborns.
- Hormone systems, including insulin and growth hormone pathways, are functionally active and responsive at birth.
- Neonatal metabolic and endocrine systems adapt rapidly to initial nutrition.
Abstract:
The hormonal and metabolic response to the first feed of breast milk was studied in 12 infants at 4-6 hours of age. After the feed there was an increase in blood glucose concentration but no changes in the concentrations of lactate, pyruvate, alanine, or ketone bodies. The feed was followed by an increase in the concentrations of plasma insulin, growth hormone, gastrin, and enteroglucagon, but no change in levels of plasma glucagon or gastric inhibitory peptide. Several hormone systems are functionally active at birth and are stimulated by the first feed of milk.