The relationship between epidermal growth factor levels in breast milk with fecal interleukin-8 on neonates

Breast milk contains several active biological components such as epidermal growth factor (EGF). Colostrum breast milk have much biological components than mature breast milk. Endogenous infection only increases the level of fecal IL-8. However, study that discusses the relationship between breast milk EGF and IL-8 cytokine inside neonate digestive system is not yet present. Thus, this study aimed to discover the relationship of EGF in the breast milk process stage—from the colostrum to the transitional, and the fecal Interleukin-8 inflammatory cytokine on neonates. There were 24 neonates that categorized into four study sample groups (atterm neonates, mild preterm neonates, very preterm neonates, and extremely preterm neonates). The EGF level in the breast milk was gained from neonate age of 3rd day for colostrum breast milk and 10th day for transitional breast milk from both preterm and atterm neonates. Based on ANOVA test, the mean EGF of atterm neonate colostrum milk was higher (776,25 ± 877; p = 0,0013) compared to the preterm neonate, and so was the mean EGF of atterm neonate transitional milk (645,48 ± 296; p = 0,0001). Statistical test using Pearson test and Bartlett’s test indicated a relationship (p=0.000) and r = - 0.4207 that showed negative correlation between EGF level in breastmilk with IL-8 fecal neonates.