Nucleotide and polyamine levels in colostrum and mature milk in relation to maternal atopy and atopic development in the children.

The prophylactic benefit of breastfeeding against atopic disease is still controversial. It seems to be limited to infants with genetic propensities to allergy in combination with late solid food introduction. Lower levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in human milk have been related to atopy in children, stressing a non-specific role of nutritional components in the development of atopy. Nucleotides and polyamines have been related to intestinal integrity and immune function in infancy. The main sources of these nutrients are human milk nucleotides and polyamines early in life. Our aim was to study the composition of nucleotides and polyamines in colostrum and mature milk from atopic and non-atopic mothers and the relationship to sensitization against egg, milk or cat in their children during the first year of life. The nucleotide/nucleoside and polyamine levels were measured by HPLC in colostrum and in milk at 3 mo of lactation from mothers of 21 atopic and 14 non-atopic children. Among the mothers, 10 were atopic and 25 non-atopic. The nucleotides cytidine monophosphate (CMP), uridine monophosphate (UMP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and guanosine monophosphate (GMP) and the nucleosides cytidine and uridine were detected in human milk. In colostrum, CMP dominated, and the levels increased in mature milk, while the levels of the other compounds remained constant. The nucleotide/nucleoside composition was similar in colostrum from all mothers independent of the development of sensitization in their babies, except for the higher cytidine levels in mature milk from atopic mothers of atopic babies, as compared to healthy mothers of atopic babies. The polyamine levels were similar in colostrum from atopic and non-atopic mothers. However, putrescine and spermine levels were lower in mature milk from atopic mothers than non-atopic mothers. No relationship was found between milk putrescine and spermine levels and development of atopy in the children. In conclusion, low levels of human milk putrescine and spermine seem to be related to maternal atopy.