PLATELET-ACTIVATING-FACTOR LEVELS IN TERM AND PRETERM HUMAN-MILK

It is well known that necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is less frequent in newborns being fed human breast milk. Since recent studies indicat ed that platelet-activating factor (PAF) plays an important role in pa thogenesis of NEC, this study was conducted to investigate the PAF lev els in human milk. Colostrum and mature human milk (samples obtained i n the third week) of three groups of mothers were investigated. The fi rst group had given birth within less than 32 weeks, the second betwee n 33-37 weeks and the third group after 38 weeks of gestation. The PAF levels in colostrum of all three groups were similar (0.95 +/- 0.57, 1.05 +/- 0.52 and 1.19 +/- 0.64 ng/ml, respectively). Mature human mil k in groups I and II had similar PAF levels (1.16 +/- 0.54 and 1.21 +/ - 0.60 ng/ml, respectively), however, mature human milk in group III h ad a significantly higher PAF concentration (2.04 +/- 0.59 ng/ml) than both groups' levels. However, this phenomenon by itself does not expl ain the protective effect of human milk against NEC.