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Rapid quantification of insulin in human milk by immunoassay

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 75, pages 1152–1154 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

Human milk (HM) contains numerous non-nutritive bioactive factors, amongst which the peptide hormone insulin. HM insulin has been suggested to accelerate intestinal maturation, thereby promoting feeding tolerance. Therefore, recombinant human insulin for enteral administration has been developed which might serve as supplement to HM or formula for preterm infants. However, the natural course of the HM insulin concentration directly following delivery is unknown, which hampers the development of dosage schedules in clinical trials. The aim of this study was to validate a method for insulin determination in small volumes of HM, and to assess the stability of HM insulin. The results showed that the HM insulin concentration can be measured rapidly and reliably by using an automated immunoassay. In addition, HM insulin is stable at 4 °C for at least 72 h, at room temperature for a maximum of 12 h, at −20 °C for at least 2.5 years, and during at least five freeze-thaw cycles.

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Fig. 1: Stability of human milk insulin at 4 °C and room temperature.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the study participants for their contribution to the study. We also thank the technicians of the Endocrine Laboratory of the department of Clinical Chemistry for performing the insulin measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics-Neonatology, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Elise Mank, Eva F. G. Naninck & Chris H. P. van den Akker

  2. Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences-Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Eva F. G. Naninck

  3. Department of Clinical Chemistry, Endocrine Laboratory, Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology & Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Annemieke C. Heijboer

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  1. Elise Mank
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  2. Eva F. G. Naninck
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  3. Chris H. P. van den Akker
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  4. Annemieke C. Heijboer
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Contributions

EN: study concept and design, acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of the data, drafting the manuscript. EM: study concept and design, interpretation of the data, revision of the manuscript. CvdA: study concept and design, interpretation of the data, revision of the manuscript. AH: study concept and design, acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of the data, revision of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Annemieke C. Heijboer.

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Mank, E., Naninck, E.F.G., van den Akker, C.H.P. et al. Rapid quantification of insulin in human milk by immunoassay. Eur J Clin Nutr 75, 1152–1154 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-00832-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-00832-y

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