Characteristics of ferritins in human milk secretions: similarities to serum and tissue isoferritins.

The ferritins present in the first day human colostrum and mature milk were compared with serum and tissue ferritins on the basis of their iron content, immunological reactivity and glycosylation. Both had a low iron content. The degree of glycosylation and immunochemical properties of colostrum ferritin showed strong similarities with serum ferritin. The isoelectric points and immunochemical properties of milk ferritin were similar to heart ferritin. The concentration of colostrum ferritin was more significantly correlated to body iron stores than milk ferritin.