Effect of gestation length on the levels of five innate defence proteins in human milk

Background: Human milk contains a range of host defence proteins that appear to contribute to health and wellbeing, but their variability in abundance among individuals has not been very well characterised. Milk from mothers of premature infants has altered composition, but the effect of gestation length on the hostdefence properties ofmilk is not known. A studywas therefore undertaken to determine the variability and effect of gestation length on the abundance of five host-defence proteins in milk; lactoferrin, secretory IgA, IgG, secretory component, and complement C3.