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Subject:
From:
"Linda J. Smith" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 14 Jun 2001 15:11:15 -0400
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text/plain
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Shaking human milk breaks up (denatures) some of the shaped protein
molecules, reducing them to a pile of amino acids and peptide fragments.
Lactoferrin, lysozyme, and other protective proteins only work their magic
when they are in their original, non-disturbed molecular shapes. The amino
acids and peptide fragments that result from denaturing the molecules are
still digestible nutrients, so not all is lost. But some of the baby's
protection is lost.

I wrote "don't shake the milk"
http://www.bflrc.com/ljs/breastfeeding/shakenot.htm several years ago, and
periodically I get some strongly-worded e-mails (mostly from NICU nurses)
challenging me for my references. Of course, I turn the idea around and
challenge them for references that show that shaking human milk is a
harmless practice.

I'm told that denaturing molecules by shaking is a well-known fact and a
standard part of a "biochemistry 101" curriculum. I'm not a biochemist, but
every biochemist who has written me about my "shaking" article has agreed
completely.

Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC
Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre www.bflrc.com
6540 Cedarview Ct., Dayton, OH 45459-1214 USA
(937) 438-9458 email [log in to unmask]

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