"What Are the Functions and Benefits of Lactoferrin?"
Lactoferrin: A Multifaceted Protein in Mammalian Milk and Beyond
Lactoferrin, an 80kDa iron-binding glycoprotein, belongs to the transferrin family of proteins. [1] It is abundant in colostrum and bovine milk, while present in lower concentrations in mucosal secretions such as tears, saliva, semen, nasal and bronchial secretions, bile, and gastrointestinal fluids. Additionally, lactoferrin is a component of monocytes. Discovered in milk by biologists MONTREUIJ and JOHANSONB in 1960, lactoferrin (Lactoferrin) has since been identified in the blood and various cells of several plant species by scientists like BAGGIN, leading to numerous scientific investigations.
Research reveals that lactoferrin (LF), a natural protein abundant in animal colostrum, is a versatile protein with broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antiviral properties. It regulates iron homeostasis, modulates hematopoiesis and cellular growth, enhances immune function and disease resistance, inhibits tumor cells, and synergizes with various antibiotics and antifungal agents for more effective disease treatment.
Distribution and Concentration of Lactoferrin
Lactoferrin is widely distributed in human and mammalian milk, as well as in various tissues and secretions (including tears, semen, bile, synovial fluid, and monocytes). However, it is most abundant in milk, particularly in bovine colostrum. In blood, lactoferrin is primarily secreted by polymorphonuclear cells, with minor contributions from bone marrow, salivary glands, and the uterine wall. [] The concentration of lactoferrin in human milk, approximately 1.0-3.0 mg/ml, is ten times higher than that in cow's milk (0.02-0.35 mg/ml), accounting for 20% of total milk protein. During lactation, lactoferrin levels vary with time, peaking at 6-14 mg/ml in human colostrum and decreasing to 1 mg/ml during the mature milk stage. Similarly, lactoferrin levels in cow's colostrum on the first day postpartum can reach 1 mg/ml, increasing again towards the end of lactation. []
