Biomaterial Database

Zinc, copper, calcium, and magnesium in human milk. 1982

G B Fransson, and B Lönnerdal

Human milk was fractionated and analyzed for the distribution of copper, zinc, calcium, and magnesium among various fractions. In whole milk the concentration of copper was 0.27 +/- 0.13 micrograms/ml, zinc 1.10 +/- 1.19 microgram/ml, calcium 241.2 +/- 61.9 microgram/ml, and magnesium 41.4 +/- 15.2 micrograms/. Most of the Cu, Zn, Ca, and Mg was found in the skim milk, but significant amounts of Cu, Zn, and Ca were found in the fat, most likely associated with the fat globule membrane. Less than 4% of each of the elements was found in the casein. A low molecular weight fraction contained 26% of total Cu. 25% of Zn, 34% of Ca, and 54% of MG. Gel filtration demonstrated Zn and Cu in skim milk binding to two different proteins with molecular weight (MW) greater than 400,000 and 60 to 80,000, as well as to LMW compounds. The unique distribution and binding of these elements in the milk may, in part, explain the known high bioavailability of trace elements and minerals in human milk.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008274	Magnesium	A metallic element that has the atomic symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and atomic weight 24.31. It is important for the activity of many enzymes, especially those involved in OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION.
D008895	Milk, Human	Milk that is produced by HUMAN MAMMARY GLANDS.	Breast Milk,Human Milk,Milk, Breast
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D002364	Caseins	A mixture of related phosphoproteins occurring in milk and cheese. The group is characterized as one of the most nutritive milk proteins, containing all of the common amino acids and rich in the essential ones.	alpha-Casein,gamma-Casein,AD beta-Casein,Acetylated, Dephosphorylated beta-Casein,Casein,Casein A,K-Casein,Sodium Caseinate,alpha(S1)-Casein,alpha(S1)-Casein A,alpha(S1)-Casein B,alpha(S1)-Casein C,alpha(S2)-Casein,alpha-Caseins,beta-Casein,beta-Caseins,epsilon-Casein,gamma-Caseins,kappa-Casein,kappa-Caseins,AD beta Casein,Caseinate, Sodium,K Casein,alpha Casein,alpha Caseins,beta Casein,beta Caseins,beta-Casein Acetylated, Dephosphorylated,beta-Casein, AD,epsilon Casein,gamma Casein,gamma Caseins,kappa Casein,kappa Caseins
D002850	Chromatography, Gel	Chromatography on non-ionic gels without regard to the mechanism of solute discrimination.	Chromatography, Exclusion,Chromatography, Gel Permeation,Chromatography, Molecular Sieve,Gel Filtration,Gel Filtration Chromatography,Chromatography, Size Exclusion,Exclusion Chromatography,Gel Chromatography,Gel Permeation Chromatography,Molecular Sieve Chromatography,Chromatography, Gel Filtration,Exclusion Chromatography, Size,Filtration Chromatography, Gel,Filtration, Gel,Sieve Chromatography, Molecular,Size Exclusion Chromatography
D003300	Copper	A heavy metal trace element with the atomic symbol Cu, atomic number 29, and atomic weight 63.55.	Copper-63,Copper 63
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001682	Biological Availability	The extent to which the active ingredient of a drug dosage form becomes available at the site of drug action or in a biological medium believed to reflect accessibility to a site of action.	Availability Equivalency,Bioavailability,Physiologic Availability,Availability, Biologic,Availability, Biological,Availability, Physiologic,Biologic Availability,Availabilities, Biologic,Availabilities, Biological,Availabilities, Physiologic,Availability Equivalencies,Bioavailabilities,Biologic Availabilities,Biological Availabilities,Equivalencies, Availability,Equivalency, Availability,Physiologic Availabilities
D012709	Serum Albumin	A major protein in the BLOOD. It is important in maintaining the colloidal osmotic pressure and transporting large organic molecules.	Plasma Albumin,Albumin, Serum