ESTIMATION OF 24-HOUR POLYAMINE INTAKE FROM MATURE HUMAN-MILK

It has been suggested that milk polyamines stimulate GI tract prolifer ation and maturation in newborns. We determined human milk polyamine c oncentrations and estimated 24-h outputs on days 16 +/- 4 (n = 98), 44 +/- 3 (n = 97) and 91 +/- 6 (n = 25) after delivery. Median concentra tions in micromolars were, respectively, putrescine 0.77, 0.63, and 0. 63; spermidine 4.54, 3.07, and 2.73; spermine 3.76, 2.90, and 2.22; an d total polyamines 9.82, 6.83, and 5.71. Concentrations of spermidine, spermine, and total polyamines decreased during the observation perio d. Putrescine, spermidine, and spermine milk/maternal plasma ratios we re estimated to be 16-19, 14-24, and 44-75, respectively. It would app ear that milk polyamines are derived from the high polyamine contents in the mammary gland and that they may be important in infant nutritio n.