Lactoferrin - a glycoprotein of great therapeutic potentials
Lauterbach, R.; Kamińska, E.; Michalski, P.; Lauterbach, J.P.ł
Developmental Period Medicine 20(2): 118-125
2016
ISSN/ISBN: 1428-345X PMID: 27442696 Document Number: 689764
Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein, which is present in most biological fluids with particularly high levels in colostrum and in mammalian milk. Bovine lactoferrin is more than 70% homologous with human lactoferrin. Most of the clinical trials have used bovine lactoferrin for supplementation. This review summarizes the recent advances in explaining the mechanisms, which are responsible for the multifunctional roles of lactoferrin, and presents its potential prophylactic and therapeutic applications. On the ground of the results of preliminary clinical observations, authors suggest beneficial effect of lactoferrin supplementation on the prevalence of necrotizing enterocolitis in infants with birth weight below 1250 grams.
Document emailed within 1 workday
