Angela you wrote, "This nervonic acid discussion has brought up something
I've been wondering about for a long time.  Does anyone know of or have
reference to breastmilk being used as a treatment for MS?"

There are some US patents that state that human milk produces proteins,
peptides, etc. that will be considered for use in treatment of MS. What drug
companies do is produce these substances by genetic engineering (fermentation
or yeast cultures) and more recently by transgenic milks (using the mammary
glands of various mammals to produce therapeutic proteins).

For example patent # 5714459 called, "Use of prosaposin and neurotrophic
peptides derived therefrom," states in the beginning of the patent that
prosaposin is secreted in human milk. And they state in their abstract that:

"Prosaposin, saposin C and various peptide fragments of saposin C stimulate
neurite outgowth in vitro.  In additon prosaposin and saposin C promote
increased myelination ex vivo."

So, the treatment for these conditions are based upon human milk research,
although the product is synthetically derived.  Whether they act in the same
manner as the real thing is a question one must ask.  And, of course, I must
ask why are we building this amazing arsenal of drugs based on human milk
research, but not investing in the promotion of breastfeeding? This
particular patent and the research that went into it was supported by the NIH
(National Institute of Health-USA).
Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

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