Epidermal growth factor in human milk: Daily production and diurnal variation during early lactation in mothers delivering at term and at premature gestation

• Published in: The Journal of pediatrics Vol. 103; no. 3; pp. 402 - 405
• Main Authors: Moran, J. Roberto, Courtney, Mary E., Orth, David N., Vaughan, Ross, Coy, Sam, Mount, Charles D., Sherrell, Barbara J., Greene, Harry L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.09.1983; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Apud cells. Peptide and protein hormones. Growth factors; Biological and medical sciences; Circadian Rhythm; Epidermal Growth Factor - analysis; Epidermal Growth Factor - biosynthesis; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Lactation; Milk, Human - analysis; Obstetric Labor, Premature; Pregnancy; Time Factors; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Human; Epidermal growth factor; Circadian rhythm; Milk
• ISSN: 0022-3476; 1097-6833
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-3476(83)80412-0

Epidermal growth factor is a polypeptide that stimulates proliferation and differentiation of a variety of cell types, including the developing intestinal epithelium; it is the agent in human milk that induces mitosis in human fibroblast culture. We systematically evaluated the EGF content of milk from 20 women delivering prematurely and from 11 women delivering at term. In preterm mothers, the concentration of EGF was 70±5 ng/ml (mean±SEM), with no significant change during seven weeks of lactation. EGF concentration in milk of term mothers was 68±19 ng/ml (mean±SEM). No diurnal variation in the concentration was found. Total EGF content was closely correlated with the volume of milk expressed, suggesting a passive transport from the circulation. These observations confirm that a substantial amount of EGF is present in human milk and that EGF concentrations are not affected by duration of gestation, time of day, or duration of lactation.