Human and Cow milk
Breast milk vs Cow’s milk
- Protein content is 3 times less in human milk.
- Human milk contains more tryptophan and sulphur containing amino acids (cysteine -for premature babies) and rich fn taurine and less methionine
- Breast milk is rich in fats (35 – 50% of total energy value)
- Essential PUFA like linoleic acid and alpha linoleic acid are more in human milk
- Human milk has less calcium and phosphorus
- The Calcium/phosphorus ratio is high – better calcium uptake
- Human milk contains more lactose for growing brain and helps the right bacteria to grow in the intestine
- Human milk contains more vitamin A and C
- Vitamin D in human milk is in the water soluble form
- Iron in the human milk has more bioavailability (co-efficient of uptake 70%; cow’s milk – 30%)
- Human milk is rich in copper, selenium and cobalt
- Human milk contains less sodium
- Water content is 88%, hence a breast fed baby does not require any additional water
- Maximum milk output is at 5 – 6 months.
Composition of breast milk
- Colostrum: milk secreted during initial 3-4 days after delivery. Yellow and thick. Contains more antibodies, and increased amounts of vitamins A, D, E, K
- Transitional milk: milk secreted after 3-4days and until 2 weeks. Immunoglobulin and protein content
decreases white fat and sugar content increases - Mature milk: follows transitional milk. Thin and watery but contains all nutrients
- Preterm milk: more proteins, sodium, immunoglobulins and calories
- Foremilk: milk secreted at the start of a feed. Watery (satisfies baby’s thirst) and rich in proteins, sugar,
vitamins and minerals - Hind milk: comes towards the end of a feed. Rich in fat, provides more energy and satisfies baby’s hunger
Exam Question
In a neonate with inadequate breast milk intake the weight loss is more than 8-10%.
- Other signs of inadequate breast milk intake are: Less than six noticeably wet diapers per 24 h by day 3–4 ,Less than four stools per day by day 3–4 ,Nursing less than eight times per 24 h.
- The protective effects of breast milk are known to be associated with IgA antibodies.
- Most common immunoglobulin secreted by mother in milk and colostrum is IgA.
- Para amino benzoic acid of breast milk prevent the infection of Plasmodium Vivax.
- Breast milk contains several antiinfective factors –
- Antibodies secretory IgA, IgM
- Lysozyme
- Antistaphylococcal factor
- Specific inhibitory substances against viral infections.
- Lactoferrin → Inhibits growth of E. coli.
- Bile stimulated lipase → kills entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia.
- Bifidus factor -4 Inhibits growth of E. coli
- Para-amino-benzoic acid (PABA) – Provides protection against malaria
- Phagocytic macrophages and lymphoid cells
- Under normal conditions breast milk production reaches a maximum when the baby is around 4 – 6 months.
Colostrum:
- Compared with mature milk, colostrum contains more minerals and amino acids. It also has more protein, much of which is globulin, but less sugar and fat.
- It also contains antibodies, and its content of immunoglobulin A (IgA) offers the newborn protection against enteric pathogens.
- Other host resistance factors found in colostrum and milk include complement, macrophages, lymphocytes, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, and lysozymes.
- Milk ejection occurs in response to a surge of oxytocin, which induces a contractile response in the smooth muscle surrounding the gland ductules.
- Fatty acid found exclusively in breast milk is Docosahexanoic acid.
Cow Milk:
- Whey protein constitutes 80% of the protein in human milk, while the main protein in cow’s milk is casein.
- Has more K+ and Na’ than infant formula feeds.
- Has more protein than breast milk.
- Compared with Cow’s milk, mothers milk has more lactose.
- Human milk has less fat, less protein, more carbohydrates and less calcium, in comparison to cow milk .
- Cow’s milk contains 3.2 % proteins.
- Percentage of lactose in human milk is 7.0 gm.
- Calcium in human milk is 35 mg/dl
- Hind milk is richer in fat.
Breast milk:
- Can be stored at room temperature → For 8-10 hours
- In a refrigerator → For 24 hours
- In a freezer → -20°c for 3 months.
Breast milk transmits (with definitive evidence) → 1) HIV , 2) CMV
- Breast milk can rarely transmit → 1) HTLV – type 1 ,2) Rubella virus ,3)HBV , 4) HSV.
- Premature milk contains less lactose in comparison to term milk.
- The coefficient of uptake of iron in breast milk is 70%.
- Calcium absorption of human milk is better that that of cow’s milk.
- The milk of human contains the least amount of calcium.
- Human milk gives 67 kcal per 100 ml .
- Protein forms 8-10% of total energy.
- Carbohydrate forms 3 8-40% of total energy.
- Fat forms 50-52% of total energy.
- Breast milk protein is a reference protein.
- Vitamin K is absent in breast milk.
- Milk is a poor source of Vitamin C.
- Vitamin not present in breast milk is Vitamin B.
- According to WHO, exclusive breast milk is given upto 6 months.
- Fat content of milk: Buffalo > Goat > Cow > Human
- Protein content of milk: Buffalo > Goat > Cow > Human
- Lactose content of milk: Human > Buffalo > Goat > Cow
- Energy content of milk: Buffalo > Goat > Cow > Human.
- Clonazepam antiepileptic drug is least secreted in breast milk.
- Protein content in F-75 milk formula is 0.9 gm/100 ml.
- Average daily breast milk output during first 6 months is 500-600 ml.
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