Abstract
The distribution of iron among various fractions of human milk was determined by gel filtration, ultrafiltration, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Total iron varied between 0.26 and 0.73 μg/ml; 15 to 46% of the iron was bound to the lipid fraction and 18 to 56% was found in a low molecular weight fraction. Only a small amount of iron was bound to lactoferrin, the major iron-binding protein of human milk; the iron saturation of this protein was found to be 1 to 4%, at the most. Thus, much less iron is bound to lactoferrin than earlier reported; this may be important in regard to the suggested role of this protein as a bacteriostatic agent. A correlation was found between iron and fat content during the course of a single nursing, but not between iron and lactoferrin.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 380-384 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | The Journal of Pediatrics |
| Volume | 96 |
| Issue number | 3 PART 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1980 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Cite this
Iron in human milk. / Fransson, Gun Britt; Lönnerdal, Bo.
In: The Journal of Pediatrics, Vol. 96, No. 3 PART 1, 1980, p. 380-384.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Iron in human milk
AU - Fransson, Gun Britt
AU - Lönnerdal, Bo
PY - 1980
Y1 - 1980
N2 - The distribution of iron among various fractions of human milk was determined by gel filtration, ultrafiltration, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Total iron varied between 0.26 and 0.73 μg/ml; 15 to 46% of the iron was bound to the lipid fraction and 18 to 56% was found in a low molecular weight fraction. Only a small amount of iron was bound to lactoferrin, the major iron-binding protein of human milk; the iron saturation of this protein was found to be 1 to 4%, at the most. Thus, much less iron is bound to lactoferrin than earlier reported; this may be important in regard to the suggested role of this protein as a bacteriostatic agent. A correlation was found between iron and fat content during the course of a single nursing, but not between iron and lactoferrin.
AB - The distribution of iron among various fractions of human milk was determined by gel filtration, ultrafiltration, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Total iron varied between 0.26 and 0.73 μg/ml; 15 to 46% of the iron was bound to the lipid fraction and 18 to 56% was found in a low molecular weight fraction. Only a small amount of iron was bound to lactoferrin, the major iron-binding protein of human milk; the iron saturation of this protein was found to be 1 to 4%, at the most. Thus, much less iron is bound to lactoferrin than earlier reported; this may be important in regard to the suggested role of this protein as a bacteriostatic agent. A correlation was found between iron and fat content during the course of a single nursing, but not between iron and lactoferrin.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0018853489&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0018853489&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0022-3476(80)80676-7
DO - 10.1016/S0022-3476(80)80676-7
M3 - Article
VL - 96
SP - 380
EP - 384
JO - Journal of Pediatrics
JF - Journal of Pediatrics
SN - 0022-3476
IS - 3 PART 1
ER -