TY - JOUR

T1 - Fortification With Bovine Colostrum Enhances Antibacterial Activity of Human Milk

AU - Gao, Xiaoyan

AU - Li, Yanqi

AU - Olin, Anne Bille

AU - Nguyen, Duc Ninh

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - ObjectivesHuman milk (HM) is the optimal diet for neonates, but it does not provide enough nutrients for preterm infants. HM fortifiers based on highly processed mature bovine milk (BMFs) are routinely used for preterm infants despite risks of causing gut dysfunction and systemic infection. Gently-processed bovine colostrum as a fortifier (BCF) may better protect against infection and inflammation. We hypothesized that BCF-fortified HM has enhanced antimicrobial activity against pathogens that commonly cause neonatal sepsis, relative to BMF-fortified HM.MethodsHolder-pasteurized HM samples (10 mothers) were aliquoted into 3 fractions: unfortified HM and HM fortified with either BMF or BCF. The samples were analyzed for pH, lactoferrin concentrations, and antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis.ResultsHM+BCF had a lower pH and higher lactoferrin levels than HM+BMF, with HM being intermediate. Relative to infant formula, HM decreased the growth of S epidermidis, E coli, and E faecalis, with no difference between preterm and term HM. Addition of BMF abolished the antimicrobial effect of HM against S epidermidis and E faecalis but not E coli. By contrast, addition of BCF into HM enhanced antimicrobial activity against S epidermidis and E coli, relative to unfortified HM. HM+BCF was superior to HM+BMF in inhibiting growth of all tested bacteria.ConclusionBMF fortification decreased whereas BCF fortification enhanced in vitro antimicrobial activity of HM. This effect may partly be derived from the high levels of antimicrobial factors found in BCF, including lactoferrin. BCF may be a better fortifier than BMF for preterm infants.

AB - ObjectivesHuman milk (HM) is the optimal diet for neonates, but it does not provide enough nutrients for preterm infants. HM fortifiers based on highly processed mature bovine milk (BMFs) are routinely used for preterm infants despite risks of causing gut dysfunction and systemic infection. Gently-processed bovine colostrum as a fortifier (BCF) may better protect against infection and inflammation. We hypothesized that BCF-fortified HM has enhanced antimicrobial activity against pathogens that commonly cause neonatal sepsis, relative to BMF-fortified HM.MethodsHolder-pasteurized HM samples (10 mothers) were aliquoted into 3 fractions: unfortified HM and HM fortified with either BMF or BCF. The samples were analyzed for pH, lactoferrin concentrations, and antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis.ResultsHM+BCF had a lower pH and higher lactoferrin levels than HM+BMF, with HM being intermediate. Relative to infant formula, HM decreased the growth of S epidermidis, E coli, and E faecalis, with no difference between preterm and term HM. Addition of BMF abolished the antimicrobial effect of HM against S epidermidis and E faecalis but not E coli. By contrast, addition of BCF into HM enhanced antimicrobial activity against S epidermidis and E coli, relative to unfortified HM. HM+BCF was superior to HM+BMF in inhibiting growth of all tested bacteria.ConclusionBMF fortification decreased whereas BCF fortification enhanced in vitro antimicrobial activity of HM. This effect may partly be derived from the high levels of antimicrobial factors found in BCF, including lactoferrin. BCF may be a better fortifier than BMF for preterm infants.

U2 - 10.1002/jpen.2060

DO - 10.1002/jpen.2060

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33305396

VL - 45

SP - 1417

EP - 1424

JO - Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition

JF - Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition

SN - 0148-6071

IS - 7

ER -