Possible Influence of Vitamin B₁₂-Binding Protein in Milk on the Intestinal Flora in Breast-fed Infants

Abstract

Gullberg, R. Possible influence of vitamin B₁₂-binding protein in milk on the intestinal flora in breast-fed infants. II. Contents of unsaturated B₁₂-binding protein in meconium and faeces from breast-fed and bottle-fed infants. Scand. J. Gastroent. 1974, 9, 287-292.

The unsaturated vitamin B₁₂-binding capacity (UBBC) was determined in meconium and faeces from breast-fed and bottle-fed infants. The UBBC values (ng B₁₂ units/g of meconium or faeces) obtained were a mean of 154 ± S.D. 277 (range 2–1151) and a median of 49 in 21 examined samples from 15 infants, aged 1-3 days; a mean of 273 ± S.D. 352 (range 2-1300) and a median of 64 in 28 samples from 10 breast-fed infants, aged 4-51 days; and a mean of 72 ± S.D. 118 (range 0-468) and a median of 10 in 27 samples from 9 bottle-fed infants, aged 4-51 days. The results are discussed with reference to the theory that the large molecular size B₁₂-binding protein, which is present in relatively large amounts in human digestive fluids and in human milk, may influence the intestinal flora by competing with microorganisms for vitamin B₁₂ in the medium.

Key-words::

• Breast-feeding
• enterobacteriaceae
• faeces
• food, dairy products
• milk, human
• meconium
• vitamin B₁₂