Jacquie and Kate,

I don't find it extremely strange (laughing--sorry I've been looking at this
stuff for over 1 year now) that the recommendation is to recommend
lactoferrin-enriched formula or lactoferrin supplement.  Take note, that the
first recommendation is formula.  There are many studies that show that
lactoferrin inactivates hiv.  There are many patents (including one with the
assignee being the US government as represented by the Department of Health)
on human and bovine lactoferrin for prevention and treatment of hiv/aids.
There are patents on HMFG (human milk fat globule) for treatment and
prevention of hiv/aids.  Some of the patents were filed in the early 90's and
there are some patents from the late 90's.  Most patents are about using
genetically engineered human lactoferrin or genetically engineered bovine
lactoferrin (since cows have very little lactoferrin--genetic engineering is
helpful in mass production of this item).

One of the things that has happened in the US is that the government (FDA)
accepts the rationale that genetically engineered organisms are the same
as/equivalent to the real thing.  Therefore, genetically engineered human
lactoferrin is equal to real human lactoferrin.  I think that is a fallacy
that has potentially serious health consequences.

There is a randomized, double-blind controlled study of an increased caloric
density infant formula (I believe this is a formula spiked with lactoferrin
but they call it concentrated formula) and its effect on growth and
nutritional status in hiv-infected infants.  It is in clinical trials in the
USA.  But I have no proof that this concentrated formula is indeed
lactoferrin-spiked.  In the US there is no way they could do a study on
breastfeeding and hiv.  The purpose of the study states that they "trying to
determine the effect of nutritional supplementation on immunologic status as
measured by CD3+CD4 and CD3+CD8+lymphocyte count, the occurence of
opportunistic infections, and on parent/guardian reported quality of life."
I tend to think that added lactoferrin would be the only thing that would
make sense about this "concentrated" formula.  This is an on-going trial--not
finished as far as I can tell.
http://www.aegis.com/pubs/trials/NIH-00932.htm

There are political and economic reasons why breastfeeding is never seriously
considered in regard to the hiv/aids problem.  I think there is a tendency to
believe that scientific research is devoid of politics and economics. That is
a real mistake.
This particular study on hiv and lactoferrin comes from Japan from a
university in Nagaski.  Alot of research in universities is funded by
industries.  Not that I am saying this one is--I don't know.  There are 2
patents on lactoferrin and hiv from a company in Japan called Snow Brand Milk
Products.  This company underwent a major crisis recently with massive food
poisoning in Japan.  Nestle has offered to help them out and improve their
name (a merger).  Who owns those patents now?  Sad state of affairs when
formula companies own patents to human milk components.  Their product is
based on what human milk can do but they are going to engineer the component
because human knowledge is better than nature/God.  In the mean time we are
all told its not safe for hiv positive women to breastfeed.  I call that the
makings of a Greek tragedy.  Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html