Breast Milk Beta Glucuronidase in Breast Milk Jaundice
Resource
JOURNAL OF THE FORMOSAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION v.91 n.3 pp.287-293
Journal
JOURNAL OF THE FORMOSAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Journal Volume
v.91
Journal Issue
n.3
Pages
287-293
Date Issued
1992
Date
1992
Author(s)
YAU, KOU-INN TSOU
CHIEN, CHIN-HAU
FANG, LI-JUNG
CHEN, CHIUNG-LIN
Abstract
Breast milk jaundice (BMJ) is the most common etiology of prolonged unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in a newborn infant. The pathogenesis of BMJ has been studied by many investigators, yet the etiology still remains uncertain. A prospective study was done to examine the role of breast milk .beta.-glucuronidase in BMJ in healthy full-term Chinese newborns. There were 71 infants in the formula-fed group (FF group), 28 in the breast-fed group (BF group) and 27 in the mixed feeding group (MF group). Study infants were followed at the well-baby clinic for at least two months. Enzyme activity in maternal breast milk and infants' stools decreased significantly during the first week postpartum. There was no intergroup difference in fecal enzyme activity for the different age groups. Significantly more infants in the BF group (35.7%) developed prolonged unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia than did infants in the FF group (2.8%) and the MF group (0%). We did not find higher enzyme activity in breast milk or stools of infants with BMJ than in infants without BMJ. We, therefore, conclude that breast milk .beta.-glucuronidase is not related to the development of BMJ.
Subjects
breast feeding,breast milk jaundice,prolonged unconjugated
hyperbilirubinemia,β-glucuronidase
Type
journal article