Lactoferrin and prematurity: a promising milk protein?

Lactoferrin (Lf) is the major whey protein in milk with multiple beneficial health effects, including direct anti-microbial activities, anti-inflammatory effects and iron homeostasis. Lf oral supplementation in human preterm infants has been shown to reduce the incidence of sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis. In preclinical models of antenatal stress and perinatal brain injury bovine Lf protected the developing brain from neuronal loss, improved connectivity, increased neurotrophic factors and decreased inflammation. It also supported brain development and cognition. Further, Lf could prevent preterm delivery, through a reduction of pro-inflammatory factors and inhibition of premature cervix maturation. We review here the latest research on lactoferrin in the field of neonatology.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author