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Interleukin-10 and -12 in human milk at 3 stages of lactation: A longitudinal study

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Abstract

This study was undertaken to analyze postpartum changes in concentrations of interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-12 through the 3 stages of lactation. A total of 87 human milk samples were collected from 29 healthy mothers during the colostrum (0–3 days), early milk (14–17 days), and mature milk (44–47 days) phases. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests were performed on the milk samples. IL-10 was detected in 7 and IL-12 in 4 of the colostrum samples. In the transitional milk samples, IL-10 was present in 4 and IL-12 in 2; however, both of these cytokines became undetectable in mature milk samples. The decrease in concentrations of IL-10 and IL-12 was statistically significant during the postpartum period (P=.001 and P=.024, respectively). IL-10 levels in the colostrum samples were higher than in the transitional samples (P=.018, with use of the post hoc test). No statistically significant differences between IL-12 levels were noted in the colostrum samples and the transitional samples (P=.068, with use of the post hoc test). A negative correlation was observed between concentrations of IL-10 in colostrum and the total number of pregnancies (R=−.401;P=.031). The findings of the present study suggest that mean concentrations of IL-10 and IL-12 are decreased in human milk as lactation continues through its 3 phases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Medical Faculty of Cukurova University, Turkey

    H. Levent Yilmaz MD (Associate Professor)

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seyhan Research and Education Hospital Numune Research Hospital, Turkey

    Esra Selver Saygili-Yilmaz MD

  3. Department of Rheumatology-Immunology, Medical Faculty of Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey

    Ramazan Gunesacar MSc

Authors
  1. H. Levent Yilmaz MD
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  2. Esra Selver Saygili-Yilmaz MD
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  3. Ramazan Gunesacar MSc
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Correspondence to H. Levent Yilmaz MD.

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Yilmaz, H.L., Saygili-Yilmaz, E.S. & Gunesacar, R. Interleukin-10 and -12 in human milk at 3 stages of lactation: A longitudinal study. Adv Therapy 24, 603–610 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02848785

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