Zhou Yang, Duan Yifan, Jiang Shan, Zhang Yuwen, Liu Muxue, Gu Xuyang, Li Ying, Zhang Ning, Jiang Rulan, Yang Zhenyu, Lai Jianqiang
National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
Liangping District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing, China.
Pediatr Res. 2025 May 9. doi: 10.1038/s41390-025-04109-7.
Lactoferrin (Lf) is an important bioactive protein in human milk involved in diverse biological functions. Concentrations of milk Lf are tightly regulated during lactation. This study aims to investigate the longitudinal changes in human milk Lf concentrations during the first year postpartum and identify the factors associated with these changes.
This prospective cohort study recruited 160 dyads of healthy mothers and their full-term newborns in Wuqiang, Hebei province, China. Maternal and infant characteristics were collected using a structured questionnaire. Milk Lf concentrations were measured using an ELISA. A linear mixed model was employed to examine the longitudinal changes in Lf concentrations and identify associated factors.
The mean milk Lf concentrations were 7.17 g/L, 4.02 g/L, 2.95 g/L, 2.19 g/L, and 2.43 g/L at 0-7 days, 30 days, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postpartum, respectively. The frequency of breastfeeding in the prior 24 h was negatively associated with Lf concentrations (P = 0.017). Prenatal mean corpuscular volume (MCV) status may influence the longitudinal changes in milk Lf (P = 0.011).
Milk Lf concentrations decrease during the first 6 months and increase from 6 to 12 months, with these changes potentially associated with breastfeeding frequency and prenatal MCV status.
This study represents one of the largest cohort investigations of the dynamic changes and influencing factors of human milk Lf concentration in China. The study investigated the relationship between maternal red blood cell indexes and milk Lf concentrations. Milk Lf concentrations dynamically change throughout lactation, decreasing during the first 6 months and potentially increasing from 6 to 12 months. The concentrations and longitudinal changes of milk Lf were impacted by the frequency of breastfeeding and maternal mean corpuscular volume.
乳铁蛋白（Lf）是母乳中一种重要的生物活性蛋白，参与多种生物学功能。哺乳期母乳中Lf的浓度受到严格调控。本研究旨在调查产后第一年母乳中Lf浓度的纵向变化，并确定与这些变化相关的因素。
这项前瞻性队列研究在中国河北省武强县招募了160对健康母亲及其足月新生儿。使用结构化问卷收集母婴特征。采用酶联免疫吸附测定法（ELISA）测量母乳中Lf的浓度。采用线性混合模型来检查Lf浓度的纵向变化并确定相关因素。
产后0至7天、30天、3个月、6个月和12个月时，母乳中Lf的平均浓度分别为7.17 g/L、4.02 g/L、2.95 g/L、2.19 g/L和2.43 g/L。前24小时的母乳喂养频率与Lf浓度呈负相关（P = 0.017）。产前平均红细胞体积（MCV）状态可能影响母乳中Lf浓度的纵向变化（P = 0.011）。
母乳中Lf的浓度在最初6个月内下降，6至12个月时上升，这些变化可能与母乳喂养频率和产前MCV状态有关。
本研究是中国关于母乳Lf浓度动态变化及其影响因素的最大规模队列研究之一。该研究调查了母亲红细胞指标与母乳Lf浓度之间的关系。母乳中Lf的浓度在整个哺乳期动态变化，最初6个月下降，6至12个月时可能上升。母乳中Lf的浓度及其纵向变化受到母乳喂养频率和母亲平均红细胞体积的影响。
