[Profile of immunoglobulins A, G, and M during breast milk maturation in a tropical area (Gabon)].

Abstract

Objectives: To study the maturation of breast milk by the course of immunoglobulins A, G and M during the first three weeks of breast feeding.

Material and methods: This longitudinal and prospective survey took place from August to October, 2007, in Libreville, the capital of Gabon. The population comprised women with no significant medical history who had given birth in the obstetrics department of Center Hospital of Libreville. Women who delivered at home, had stillbirths, or infants positive for HIV hepatitis B virus were excluded. Three samples were taken, on D1 for colostrum, D7 for the transitional milk and D21 for mature milk. Immunoglobulins were determined by nephelometry, with the Turbox Plus(®) system from Diagnostica Orion. Variables were compared with Spearman's non-parametric test. The survey of the kinetic has been made from the test of Friedman's test was used to assess the kinetics. Significance was set at p<0.05.

Results: This survey included 60 mother-child pairs. The mean IgA concentration on D1 was 13.4 ± 5.9 g/L. This concentration fell very quickly by the end of the first week, to 2.3 ± 2.0 g/L on D8, and then stabilized through D21. This rapid drop explains the need for early breast feeding after birth. On the other hand, IgG and IgM concentrations varied less and about one-sixth as high as the IgA. This finding confirms that they were minor components of breast milk.

Conclusion: This work shows the importance of the early immune protection provided by the mother to her child during the first week of life.