Antibacterial properties of xanthine oxidase in human milk [letter] NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Antibacterial properties of xanthine oxidase in human milk [letter]

Lancet. 2000 Sep 2;356(9232):829-30. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/20475770
Stevens CR; Millar TM; Clinch JG; Kanczler JM; Bodamyali T; Blake DR

Abstract: Formula-fed babies contract gastroenteritis more than breast-fed babies, which is of concern to mothers who cannot breastfeed or, as with HIV-infected mothers, are discouraged from breastfeeding. The ability of endogenous breastmilk xanthine oxidase to generate the antimicrobial radical nitric oxide has been measured and its influence on the growth of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritides examined. Breastmilk, but not formula feed, generated nitric oxide. Xanthine oxidase activity substantially inhibited the growth of both bacteria. An important natural antibiotic system is missing in formula feeds; the addition of xanthine oxidase may improve formula for use when breastfeeding is not a safe option.

Keywords: LETTER JOURNAL ARTICLE Anti-Infective Agents/ISOLATION & PURIF/*PHARMACOLOGY Drug Interactions Escherichia coli/DRUG EFFECTS/GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT Female Human Hydrogen Peroxide/PHARMACOLOGY Hypoxanthine/PHARMACOLOGY Milk, Human/*ENZYMOLOGY/METABOLISM Nitric Oxide/BIOSYNTHESIS Salmonella enteritidis/DRUG EFFECTS/GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Xanthine Oxidase/ISOLATION & PURIF/METABOLISM/*PHARMACOLOGY

KWDletterjournalarticleanti-infectiveagents/isolation&purif/KWDpharmacologydruginteractionsescherichiacoli/drugeffects/growth&developmentfemalehumanhydrogenperoxide/pharmacologyhypoxanthine/pharmacologymilk,human/KWDenzymology/metabolismnitricoxide/biosynthesissalmonellaenteritidis/drugeffects/growth&developmentsupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'txanthineoxidase/isolation&purif/metabolism/KWDpharmacology
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A00C0144

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