[Impact of delivery type on EGF and IGF-1 concentration in umbilical blood of newborns and their mothers' milk].

Unlabelled: Peptide growth factors, including EGF and IGF-1, play a substantial role in child's growth and maturation processes. Growth factors found in mother's milk can modify development of the newborn and the infant, especially in the area of alimentary tract differentiation and maturation.
Objectives: Study was undertaken to evaluate impact of the delivery type on EGF and IGF-1 concentration in the umbilical blood of newborns and their mothers' milk.
Material and Methods: Sixty eight newborns and their mothers were examined. EGF and IGF-1 concentration was measured in serum of venous umbilical blood as well as in the mothers' milk collected on the first day of lactation. To measure EGF and IGF-1 concentration radioimmunoassay method (RIA) was applied.
Results: No correlation was found between the concentration of the two growth factors in umbilical blood and the delivery type. Neither significant difference was found between EGF concentration in the milk of the mothers who had spontaneous labour and the factor concentration in the milk of the mothers who had a caesarean section. Contrary to EGF, IGF-1 concentration in the milk of the mothers who had a caesarean section was lower than in the milk of the mothers who had a spontaneous delivery. However, significant differences were observed only in a group of mothers of newborns born at term.
Conclusions: Caesarean section may disturb mechanisms of IGF-1 synthesis and release to mother's milk in the initial stage of lactation.