Analysis of Insulin in Human Breast Milk in Mothers with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Despite the important role that insulin plays in the human body, very little is known about its presence in human milk. Levels rapidly decrease during the first few days of lactation and then, unlike other serum proteins of similar size, achieve comparable levels to those in serum. Despite this, cur...

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Main Authors: T. J. Whitmore, N. J. Trengove, D. F. Graham, P. E. Hartmann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:International Journal of Endocrinology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/296368
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author T. J. Whitmore
N. J. Trengove
D. F. Graham
P. E. Hartmann
author_facet T. J. Whitmore
N. J. Trengove
D. F. Graham
P. E. Hartmann
author_sort T. J. Whitmore
collection DOAJ
description Despite the important role that insulin plays in the human body, very little is known about its presence in human milk. Levels rapidly decrease during the first few days of lactation and then, unlike other serum proteins of similar size, achieve comparable levels to those in serum. Despite this, current guides for medical treatment suggest that insulin does not pass into milk, raising the question of where the insulin in milk originates. Five mothers without diabetes, 4 mothers with type 1, and 5 mothers with type 2 diabetes collected milk samples over a 24-hour period. Samples were analysed for total and endogenous insulin content and for c-peptide content. All of the insulin present in the milk of type 1 mothers was artificial, and c-peptide levels were 100x lower than in serum. This demonstrates that insulin is transported into human milk at comparable concentration to serum, suggesting an active transport mechanism. The role of insulin in milk is yet to be determined; however, there are a number of potential implications for the infant of the presence of artificial insulins in milk.
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spelling doaj-art-5ba9ee17c9814a058cdf978cbad8f4cf2025-08-20T03:34:26ZengWileyInternational Journal of Endocrinology1687-83371687-83452012-01-01201210.1155/2012/296368296368Analysis of Insulin in Human Breast Milk in Mothers with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes MellitusT. J. Whitmore0N. J. Trengove1D. F. Graham2P. E. Hartmann3Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical and Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, UWA M310, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, AustraliaBiochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical and Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, UWA M310, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, AustraliaBiochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical and Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, UWA M310, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, AustraliaBiochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical and Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, UWA M310, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, AustraliaDespite the important role that insulin plays in the human body, very little is known about its presence in human milk. Levels rapidly decrease during the first few days of lactation and then, unlike other serum proteins of similar size, achieve comparable levels to those in serum. Despite this, current guides for medical treatment suggest that insulin does not pass into milk, raising the question of where the insulin in milk originates. Five mothers without diabetes, 4 mothers with type 1, and 5 mothers with type 2 diabetes collected milk samples over a 24-hour period. Samples were analysed for total and endogenous insulin content and for c-peptide content. All of the insulin present in the milk of type 1 mothers was artificial, and c-peptide levels were 100x lower than in serum. This demonstrates that insulin is transported into human milk at comparable concentration to serum, suggesting an active transport mechanism. The role of insulin in milk is yet to be determined; however, there are a number of potential implications for the infant of the presence of artificial insulins in milk.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/296368
spellingShingle T. J. Whitmore
N. J. Trengove
D. F. Graham
P. E. Hartmann
Analysis of Insulin in Human Breast Milk in Mothers with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
International Journal of Endocrinology
title Analysis of Insulin in Human Breast Milk in Mothers with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
title_full Analysis of Insulin in Human Breast Milk in Mothers with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
title_fullStr Analysis of Insulin in Human Breast Milk in Mothers with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of Insulin in Human Breast Milk in Mothers with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
title_short Analysis of Insulin in Human Breast Milk in Mothers with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
title_sort analysis of insulin in human breast milk in mothers with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/296368
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