Gut wall integrity in exclusively breastfed vs. formula-fed infants
Journal Title: Paediatrica Indonesiana - Year 2016, Vol 56, Issue 4
Abstract
Background Breast milk has bioactive substances that modulate gastrointestinal maturation and maintain mucosal integrity of the gut in infants. Markers that are both non-invasive and reliable, such as fecal alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), calprotectin, and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) have been used to assess gut integrity in adults. Higher AAT levels may imply greater enteric protein loss due to increase intestinal permeability of immaturity gut.Objective To assess and compare gut integrity of exclusively breastfed (BF) and exclusively formula fed (FF) infants aged 4-6 months.Methods Subjects were 80 healthy infants (BF=40; FF=40), aged 4-6 months who visited the Pediatric Polyclinic at St. Carolus Hospital, and lived in Pasar Minggu or Cempaka Putih Districts, Jakarta. The fecal AAT was analyzed by an ELISA method. Mann-Whitney and unpaired T-test were used to analyze possible correlations between feeding type and gut integrity.Results The BF group had significantly higher mean fecal AAT than the FF group (P=0.02). Median sIgA levels were not significantly different between groups (P=0.104). The FF group had a higher mean fecal calprotectin level but this difference was also not significant (P=0.443). There was a significant correlation between breastfeeding and mean fecal AAT level (P=0.02), but no significant correlation with calprotectin (P=0.65) or sIgA (P=0.26).Conclusion The breastfed group shows better mucosal integrity compared to the formula fed group. Higher mean fecal AAT level in the BF group is related to the AAT content of breast milk. Therefore AAT content of BF group is actually lower than formula fed group which shows greater mucosal integrity in BF group.
Authors and Affiliations
Nur Hayati, Muzal Kadim, Irawan Mangunatmadja, Soepardi Soedibyo, Evita Ifran, Hikari Sjakti
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP446134
- DOI 10.14238/pi56.4.2016.199-204
- Views 105
- Downloads 0
Prostaglandin E2 and patent ductus arteriosus in premature infants
Background Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital heart disease most commonly occurring in premature infants. Spontaneous ductus arteriosus (DA) closure in premature infants has been suggested to be associated wi...
Selenium for acute watery diarrhea in children
Background Acute watery diarrhea remains a major health problem affecting infants and children in developing countries. Selenium deficiency may be a risk factor for diarrhea and vice versa. Few studies have been conducte...
Risk factors for mortality in children with Wilms tumor
Background Wilms tumor is the most common renal malignancy in children (95%) and one of the leading causes of death in children, with high mortality rates in developing countries. Identifying risk factors for mortality i...
Association between sleep quality and obesity in adolescents
Background Sleep quality can be measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). One component of the PSQI is duration of sleep, which is often highly inadequate in adolescents. Inadequate sleep may lead to obesity...
Cow’s milk exposure and atopic dermatitis after six months of age
Background About 60% of individuals with atopic dermatitis (AD) develop their first manifestation during infancy. Cow’s milk (CM) exposure is considered to be a risk factor for AD.Objective To evaluate for an association...