Effect of Enteral Bovine Lactoferrin in Preterm Infants

Neonatal Disease Clinical Trial

Official title: Effect of Enteral Bovine Lactoferrin on Neurobehavioral Performance of Preterm Infants

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

There is a preference for using enteral bovine lactoferrin for preterm infants. Lactoferrin is a sialic acid-rich, iron-binding milk glycoprotein, known to have multifunctional health benefits, including its ability to modulate immune function and facilitate iron absorption, as well as its antibacterial and anti inflammatory actions.

The study is an evaluation of the efficacy of enteral bovine lactoferrin on neurobehavioral performance in preterm infants.

Clinical Trial Description

Over 15 million infants are born preterm < 37 weeks gestation worldwide. Lactoferrin is about 80- kilo dalton kDa glycoprotein composed of 703 amino acid residues and is a member of the transferrin family, As a member of the transferrin family of iron-binding proteins, lactoferrin shares more than 60% homology at the amino acid level with transferrin and a 77% homology exists between human and bovine species.

Human lactoferrin is the most abundant glycoprotein. It contains 1- 4 Sialic acid residues at the terminal position of N-linked glycan chains for each lactoferrin molecule.

Poly Sialic acid plays a critical role in neural development by modulating the adhesive property of neural cell adhesion molecule and is, therefore, implicated in a wide range of morphogenic events, including cell migration, neuronal outgrowth, path-finding, sprouting, regeneration, synaptic plasticity, and serving a "reservoir function" for neurotrophic factors. Sia, a key monomeric building block of poly Sialic acid, plays crucial roles in cell-to-cell interactions, neuronal outgrowth, modifying synaptic connectivity, and memory formation An important functional property of lactoferrin is its high affinity for binding iron Iron is a ubiquitous metal that is essential for the function of all mammalian cells. Iron deficiency affects neuronal metabolism, neurotransmitter function, and myelination, which have the greatest impact on the brain during early neurodevelopment Lactoferrin is unique in that it contains 2 nutritional molecules of iron and Sialic acid, which are key components involved in early neurodevelopmental and cognitive function for infants Lactoferrin is a bifidogenic glycoprotein found in all vertebrates and mammalian milk, leukocytes, and exocrine secretions Inflammation has an adverse impact on cognition, and IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha TNF-α are closely associated with long-term potentiation (LTP) and synaptic plasticity Lactoferrin is an antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory iron-carrying ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Infant, Newborn, Diseases
• Neonatal Disease

• NCT number: NCT06015828
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Ain Shams University
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 20, 2021
• Completion date: April 20, 2023