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. 2012:2012:296368.
doi: 10.1155/2012/296368. Epub 2012 Mar 5.

Analysis of insulin in human breast milk in mothers with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus

T J Whitmore  1 , N J Trengove, D F Graham, P E Hartmann
Affiliations

Analysis of insulin in human breast milk in mothers with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus

T J Whitmore et al. Int J Endocrinol. 2012.

Abstract

Despite the important role that insulin plays in the human body, very little is known about its presence in human milk. Levels rapidly decrease during the first few days of lactation and then, unlike other serum proteins of similar size, achieve comparable levels to those in serum. Despite this, current guides for medical treatment suggest that insulin does not pass into milk, raising the question of where the insulin in milk originates. Five mothers without diabetes, 4 mothers with type 1, and 5 mothers with type 2 diabetes collected milk samples over a 24-hour period. Samples were analysed for total and endogenous insulin content and for c-peptide content. All of the insulin present in the milk of type 1 mothers was artificial, and c-peptide levels were 100x lower than in serum. This demonstrates that insulin is transported into human milk at comparable concentration to serum, suggesting an active transport mechanism. The role of insulin in milk is yet to be determined; however, there are a number of potential implications for the infant of the presence of artificial insulins in milk.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Correlation between total insulin content of fore and hind milk by CMIA method for all samples (r = 0.8413, P < 0.001, n = 199 all fore + hind milk samples).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Total Insulin content of each milk sample (fore and hind milk) collected for all mothers as measured by the CMIA method. Dark lines indicate the mean for each group. The dotted line indicates the mean for the control group with the outlier mother T0-03 removed.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean sodium content of milk in each group. *indicates significant difference (P < 0.05) compared to control mothers.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mean glucose content of milk in each group. *indicates significant difference (P < 0.05) compared to control mothers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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