To :Diana Hatch
Re :Epoetin Alfa(EPO)
Epoetin Alfa also called erythropoietin is a glycoprotein which stimulates red
blood cell production. It is derived from the kidney and stimulates bone
marrow production of RBCs. It is a protein of 165 Amino acids and a molecular
weight of 30,400 daltons.
Therefore epoetin alfa is a normal constituent in all humans.
It is not known if EPO is transferred into human milk, but it is unlikely.
Due its size it is unlikely to penetrate milk to any significant degree. Were
it to penetrate milk, it would be unlikely to survive the acid/pepsin in the
infants stomach, just as most other proteins. It is not biologically active
orally.
Regards
Tom Hale, Ph.D.