Does lactoferrin really work?
Breast milk contains high levels of lactoferrin and should not be supplemented blindly
I believe most mothers have heard of lactoferrin. Currently, there are a wide variety of lactoferrin products, and their efficacy is said to be amazing. However, should lactoferrin be supplemented?
1. How much lactoferrin does a baby need?
The "Expert Consensus on the Health Effects of Lactoferrin in Infants and Young Children" issued by the Maternal and Child Nutrition Branch of the Chinese Nutrition Society believes that lactoferrin can prevent and assist in the treatment of infant diarrhea, neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis, respiratory diseases, and neonatal sepsis. It also plays a certain role in treating anemia in infants and young children and promoting their growth and development.
So, how much should your baby eat every day?
In the expert consensus, we see this description: The dosage of lactoferrin used in each study is different, and the difference is large, and the administration method is also different. Some are oral lactoferrin, and some are obtained through dairy products.
That is to say, there is currently no recommended value in the diet for the amount that babies need every day. We can only temporarily believe that the health benefits of lactoferrin in food are better than those without.
2. Which foods are rich in lactoferrin?
Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein in the transferrin family. It is present in human milk and various secretions, with the highest content in breast milk.
Among them, human colostrum has the highest average lactoferrin content, reaching 4.9g/L; after breast milk matures, the average lactoferrin content drops by about half, to approximately 2.1g/L.
Fresh milk also contains lactoferrin, but the average content is much lower, only about 0.1g/L, which is 20 to 50 times different from breast milk.
From here we can probably see why breast milk is the best first food for babies, and everyone has always emphasized the importance of breastfeeding.
Therefore, for breastfed babies, there is no need to worry about the baby not being able to eat lactoferrin. On the contrary, formula fed babies need to pay attention.
Today's formula milk powder has been trying its best to imitate breast milk in terms of nutritional content, so lactoferrin can also be added as a nutritional fortifier.
Generally, the lactoferrin content of formula milk powder with added lactoferrin is mostly between 35~50mg/100g. Calculated based on the average value of 40mg/100g, 700mL of formula milk per day can consume about 36mg of lactoferrin. Compared with breast milk, There is still a gap.
The lactoferrin content of some milk powder brands is relatively high, reaching about 450mg/100g (21mg/kj), which is 10 times that of other brands. But generally speaking, the price is also more expensive.
But the higher the lactoferrin content in milk, the better.
The amino acid sequences of human and bovine lactoferrin are only 69% homologous. Although they have similar biological activities, they are only similar after all. You need to be more cautious about the effect of bovine lactoferrin and whether it has any other negative effects on the baby. Therefore, we would like to remind mothers not to be superstitious about some so-called "colostrum" products that contain high lactoferrin.
Exactly what content level of lactoferrin can produce health benefits? Current research still varies widely, and there is no standard.
Lactoferrin is a multifunctional glycoprotein that belongs to the transferrin family. It is an iron-binding protein that is found in various body fluids and secretions such as milk, tears, saliva, mucous, and semen. Lactoferrin is also present in neutrophils, the first line of defense against infections. In addition to its iron-binding properties, lactoferrin has other important roles such as regulating immune function, promoting tissue repair, and exhibiting antimicrobial activity. Lactoferrin has been studied extensively for its potential therapeutic uses in various health conditions including infection, inflammation, and neurological disorders. Its diverse functions and potential therapeutic benefits make lactoferrin an important molecule for research and development in the fields of nutrition.
1. Health care product: As a supplementary nutrient product, Lactoferrin can promote immunity and the ability to resist pathogens, while regulating the balance of intestinal flora and helping to maintain human health.
2. Medical field: Lactoferrin has been used in the therapy of anemia, leukemia, AIDS and other diseases, and is considered to be a good therapy of intestinal infection in the medical field.
3. Cosmetics: As a natural moisturizer and antioxidant, Lactoferrin has been widely used in skin care products and cosmetics to effectively maintain the health and beauty of the skin.
Recommended product collocation
1. Lactoferrin+Vitamin D: The combination with vitamin D can help supplement calcium and promote bone health.
2. Lactoferrin+grape seed extract: the combination of the two can improve the antioxidant capacity and protect cells from free radical damage.