Differences Between Cow's and Human Milk

Harold H. Williams, Ph.D.

[+] Author Affiliations

Ithaca, N. Y.

From the Department of Biochemistry, Cornell University.

JAMA. 1961;175(2):104-107. doi:10.1001/jama.1961.63040020005006a

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ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT | REFERENCES

Milk is a product of evolution designed specifically for the nutrition of infant mammals. It bridges the nutritional gap between intrauterine dependence and extrauterine independence. The same nutrients are present in the milk of all species, although in different proportions. Such quantitative differences appear to be an adaptation to the nutritive requirements of the young of each species.

At the beginning of this century, Bunge¹ postulated that the chemical composition of the milk of each species was correlated with the composition of the newborn. Such a correlation, if any, is not apparent. At about the same time, Abderhalden² suggested a parallel between milk composition and maturation rate of the infant mammal. However, Brody³ noted that the relationship "is complicated by many factors, evolutionary and physiologic. The situation is too complex for a simple generalization."

In spite of marked quantitative differences in the milk composition of different species,

REFERENCES

ABSTRACT | REFERENCES

Bunge, G.: Physiological and Pathological Chemistry , Philadelphia, P. Blakiston's Son and Co., 1902;.

Abderhalden, E.: Die Beziehungen der Zusammensetzung der Asche des Säuglings zu Deijenigen der Asche der Milch beim Meerschweinchen , Hoppe-Seylers Z. Physiol. Chem. 27:356-367 ( (June 24) ) 1899;.

Die Beziehungen der Wachsthumsgeschwindigkeit des Säuglings zur Zusammensetzung der Milch beim Hunde, beim Schwein, beim Schaf, bei der Ziege und beim Meerschweinchen , AbderhaldenHoppe-Seylers Z. Physiol. Chem. 1899;27 (June 24) , pp. 408-462.

Brody, S.: Bioenergetics and Growth , New York, Reinhold, 1945;.

Macy, I. G.; Kelly, H. J.; and Sloan, R. E.: Composition of Milks , Publication 254, National Academy of Science, National Research Council, 1953;.

Insull, W., Jr., and Ahrens, E. H.: Fatty Acids of Human Milk From Mothers on Diets Taken Ad Libitum , Biochem. J. 72:27-33 ( (May) ) 1959;.

Horwitt, M. K.; Harvey, C. C.; and Century, B.: Effect of Dietary Fats on Fatty Acid Composition of Human Erythrocytes and Chick Cerebella , Science 130:917-918 ( (Oct.) ) 1959;.

Mellander, O., and Vahlquist, B.: On Evaluation of Artificial Feeding , Am. J. Clin. Nutrition 5:493-499 ( (Sept.) -Oct.) 1957;.

Tomarelli, R. M.; Minnick, N.; D'Amato, E.; and Bernhart, F. W.: Bioassay of Nutritional Quality of Protein of Human and Cow's Milk by Rat Growth Procedures , J. Nutrition 68:265-279 ( (June 10) ) 1959;.

Orr, M. L., and Watt, B. K.: Amino Acid Content of Foods , Research Report No. 4, United States Department of Agriculture, Household Economics Research Division, Institute of Home Economics, Agriculture Research Service ( (Dec.) ) 1957;.

Holt, L. E., Jr.: Amino Acid Requirements in Infancy , in Fomon, S. J., Amino Acid and Protein Metabolism, Thirtieth Ross Conference on Pediatric' Research, Columbus, Ross Laboratories, 1959 .

Rose, W. C.: Amino Acid Requirements of Adult Man , Nutrition Abstr. & Rev. 27:631-647 ( (July) ) 1957;.

Role of Breast Feeding in Immunity , Nutrition Rev. 16:261-263 ( (Sept.) ) 1958;.

Zilliken, F.; Braun, G. A.; and György, P.: Gynamic Acid and Other Naturally Occurring Forms of N-Acetylneuraminic Acid , Arch. Biochem. & Biophys. 63:394-402 ( (Aug.) ) 1956;.

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