Neonatal dietary gangliosides

Citation
R. Rueda et al., Neonatal dietary gangliosides, EAR HUM DEV, 53, 1998, pp. S135-S147
Citations number
59
Categorie Soggetti
Pediatrics
Journal title
EARLY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
ISSN journal
03783782 → ACNP
Volume
53
Year of publication
1998
Supplement
S
Pages
S135 - S147
Database
ISI
SICI code
0378-3782(199812)53:<S135:NDG>2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
Gangliosides are glycosphingolipis that are widely distributed in vertebrat e tissues and body fluids and which are specially abundant in neural tissue s. Milk from different species has a particular ganglioside content and pro file. Human milk has a higher content of gangliosides than bovine milk. GD, and GM, are the predominant individual gangliosides in bovine milk. In hum an colostrum GD, is also the main ganglioside whereas in human mature milk GM, predominates over the other gangliosides. Human mirk also contains GM, and a number of highly polar gangliosides, which may play an important role in infant physiology. GM, has been shown to inhibit Escherichia coli and V ibrio cholerae enterotoxins. We have found that a ganglioside-supplemented infant formula modifies the intestinal ecology of preterm newborns, increas ing the Bifidobacteria content and lowering that of Escherichia coli, Altho ugh the exact mechanism by which dietary gangliosides reduce the fecal cont ent of Escherichia coli is unknown, in vitro experiments suggest that they may act as false intestinal receptors for some strains of this bacteria. Si nce GD, and other gangliosides have been involved in mechanisms of lymphocy te activation and differentiation, dietary gangliosides might have a functi on in intestinal immunity development. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Lt d. All rights reserved.