Changes in serum parathyroid hormone-related protein in breastfed preterm infants

Amir Ben Tov, Dror Mandel*, Yossef Weissman, Shaul Dollberg, Tali Taxir, Ronit Lubetzky

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) has the ability to activate parathyroid hormone receptors and cause hypercalcemia. In a previous study we have demonstrated high concentrations of PTHrP in both term and preterm human milk (HM). PTHrP intestinal absorption and its influence upon calcium homeostasis of the preterm infant have not been studied yet. This study assessed the correlation between PTHrP concentrations in preterm HM and PTHrP in maternal and neonatal serum. Study Design: We collected samples of expressed HM obtained from 16 mothers of preterm infants (25-34 weeks of gestation) and drew blood samples from both mothers and infants on postpartum days 2 and 10. PTHrP concentrations were measured by two-site immunoradiometric assay. Blood calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations were also measured. Results: Neither maternal nor neonatal PTHrP serum concentrations varied significantly after 10 days of breastfeeding. There was a correlation between PTHrP concentrations in maternal serum and HM concentrations (R 2=0.24, p=0.04), but not between HM and neonatal serum concentrations or between PTHrP concentrations in HM and preterm serum concentrations of Ca, P, and ALP. Conclusions: Despite high concentrations of PTHrP in preterm HM, serum concentrations of PTHrP of breastfed preterm infants did not increase over time. There was no correlation between PTHrP concentrations in HM and neonatal serum Ca concentration.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)50-53
Number of pages4
JournalBreastfeeding Medicine
Volume7
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 2012

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