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Casein, a prohormone with an immunomodulating role for the newborn?

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Summary

Maternal colostrum and milk, the earliest food of the newborn, should not only be considered as supplying nutrients, but also as agents providing protection against aggressions from the new environment. Indeed by enzymatic digestion of the main milk proteins, the caseins, biologically active peptides are released; they may be implicated in the stimulation of the newborn's immune system. From this point of view a ‘strategic active zone’ has been characterized in β-casein. A possible role of casein as a ‘prohormone’ for the newborn is suggested.

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  1. Laboratoire des Protéines, Unité associée du C.N.R.S. 1188, Université de Paris V, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, F-75270, Paris Cedex 06, France

    D. Migliore-Samour & P. Jollès

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  1. D. Migliore-Samour
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  2. P. Jollès
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Migliore-Samour, D., Jollès, P. Casein, a prohormone with an immunomodulating role for the newborn?. Experientia 44, 188–193 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01941703

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