# Associations of human milk lactoferrin with measures of physical growth in very preterm infants

## TL;DR

This study found that higher levels of lactoferrin in human milk are linked to better head growth in very preterm infants.

## Contribution

The study identifies a novel association between human milk lactoferrin concentrations and head circumference growth in very preterm infants.

## Key findings

- Higher lactoferrin levels in human milk were associated with greater head circumference z-scores in very preterm infants.
- No significant associations were found between lactoferrin levels and other growth outcomes like weight or length.
- The study suggests further research on lactoferrin supplementation to improve head growth in preterm infants.

## Abstract

To determine associations of human milk lactoferrin concentrations with growth outcomes in very preterm infants.

In 63 infants <32 weeks’ gestation, human milk samples on days 14 and 28 were analyzed for lactoferrin using electrochemiluminescence multiplex immunoassay, and values were averaged to generate mean concentrations. Anthropometry and body composition were measured at term-corrected age. Median regression was used to test median differences in outcomes across tertiles of mean human milk lactoferrin levels [lowest (0.06–0.13 mg/mL) vs. middle (0.14–0.22 mg/mL) and highest (>0.22 mg/mL)].

Compared to infants in the lowest tertile of human milk lactoferrin concentration, those in the highest tertile had greater head circumference z-score (β = 0.81 z-scores per mg/mL; 95% CI = 0.2, 1.4). There were no other differences between groups.

Human milk lactoferrin concentrations were positively associated with head circumference z-scores during hospitalization. Future studies should examine the safety/utility of lactoferrin supplementation to optimize head growth.