Effect of human milk on blood and bone marrow cells in a malnourished mice model: comparative study with cow milk

ISABEL GARCÍA DE OLIVA; SUSANA SALVA; HORTENCIA ZELAYA; JULIO VILLENA; GRACIELA AGÜERO

NUTRICIóN HOSPITALARIA

AULA MEDICA EDICIONES

Año: 2013 vol. 28 p. 2153 - 2160

0212-1611

Introduction It has been demonstrated that the alterations caused by nutrient deficiency can be reverted by adequate nutritional repletion. Objective To perform comparative studies between human and cow milks in order to evaluate the impact of both milks on the recovery of blood and bone marrow cells affected in malnourished mice. Method Weaned mice were malnourished after consuming a protein free diet for 21 days. Malnourished mice received cow or human milk (CM or HM) for 7 or 14 consecutive days. During the period of administration of milk, the mice consumed the protein free diet ad libitum. The malnourished control (MNC) group received only protein free diet whereas the well-nourished control (WNC) mice consumed the balanced conventional diet. Results and Discussion Both milks normalized serum albumin levels and improved thymus weight. Human milk was less effective than cow milk to increase body weight and serum transferrin levels. In contrast, human milk was more effective than cow milk to increase the number of leukocytes (WNC: 6.90±1.60a; MNC: 41 2.80±0.90b; CM 7d: 3.74±1.10b; HM 7d: 7.16±1.90a; CM 14d: 4.35±1.20b; HM 14d: 6.75±1.20a (109/L); p