Macromolecular Absorption in Infants with Infantile Colic

ABSTRACT. Intestinal absorption of macromolecules, using human α-lactalbumin (α-LA) as a marker, was studied in breast-fed and formula-fed infants with infantile colic. Serum samples taken at 30 and 60 min after an intake of human milk were analyzed for α-LA by a competitive radioimmunoassay technique. Breast-fed infants with infantile colic had significantly higher s-α-LA levels compared with age-matched breast-fed control infants 0-1 month of age: median value 926 μg α-LA/I serum/I human milk/kg bodyweight (n= 11) versus 150 (n= 34); 1–2 months of age: 173 (n= 22) versus 31 (n= 16); 2–3 months of age: 132 (n= 8) versus 11 (n= 16). Similarly, formula-fed colicky infants had significantly higher s-α-LA levels than agematched formula-fed control infants 1-2 months of age: median value 126 (n= 12) versus < 10 (n= 14); 2–3 months of age: 156 (n= 11) versus < 10 (n= 10). The increased absorption of the macromolecule human α-lactalbumin in infantile colic suggests that the gut mucosa is affected in infants with infantile colic.