breast milk

Human milk is similar to cow’s milk in water content (88%), specific gravity (1.030), fat content (3.5%), energy value (0.67 kcal/ml) and type of sugar-lactose. Breast milk has fewer minerals, certain vitamins (thiamin and riboflavin), and protein (1.0–1.5% vs. 3.3%) than cow’s milk, the latter due to a 6-fold increased in casein; it has more carbohydrates (6.5–7.0% vs. 4.5%), vitamins C and D, and equivalent amounts of vitamins A and B and niacin; it also contains bradykinin, EGF, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, IGF-I, melatonin, mammotropic growth factor, NGF, oxytocin. It is usually sterile, provides IgA, and is more easily digestible, as reflected in rapid transit time; breast-fed infants have a better response to vaccines than formula-fed infants

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breast milk

Neonatology Human milk is similar to cow milk in the water content–88%, specific gravity, 1.030, fat content–3.5%, energy value–0.67 kcal/ml and type of sugar—lactose. See Breast-feeding, La Leche League; Cf Certified milk, Humanized milk, Raw milk, White beverages.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.