Breast milk from healthy women has higher anti-Candida properties than women with vaginal infections during pregnancy
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2023
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the different immunological and antimicrobial properties of breast milk from women with (W) or without (WO) vaginal yeast infections during pregnancy in 85 lactating women (W, n = 43; WO, n = 42). Concentrations of IL-10, IgA, IgM, IgG, EGF, and TGF-alpha were similar in both groups. However, breast milk of women aged below 31 years old from the W-group showed higher concentration of EGF than the WO-group (p = 0.031). Breast milk from WO-group exhibited higher anti-Candida properties than W-group, both via growth inhibition and aggregation of yeast cells (p < 0.001). Correlation analysis showed that breast milk concentration of TGF-alpha positively correlated with concentrations of IL-10 (p = 0.001) and IgA (p = 0.021) in the W-group. Data from our present study shows that although breast milk from women with vaginal infections during pregnancy may not sufficiently hinder Candida growth, other immuno-modulatory bioactives may substitute for such a protective effect.
Keywords
Breast milk, Vaginal infections, Pregnant women, Immuno-modulation, Anti-Candida
Divisions
fac_med
Funders
USM-Probionic Grant (304/PTEKIND/6501096),USM-Industry Research Matching Grant (1001/PTEKIND/8070012)
Publication Title
Food Science and Biotechnology
Volume
32
Issue
4, SI
Publisher
Korean Society Food Science & Technology
Publisher Location
#605, KOREA SCI TECHNOL CENT, 635-4 YEOKSAM-DONG, KANGNAM-GU, SEOUL, 135-703, SOUTH KOREA