Influence of smoking on human milk tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 levels at postpartum seventh day

• Published in: Pediatrics international 2009-12, Vol.51 (6), p.821-824
• Main Authors: Ermis, Bahri, Yildirim, Abdulkadir, Tastekin, Ayhan, Ors, Rahmi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Interleukin-1beta - metabolism; Milk, Human - immunology; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Reference Values; Smoking - adverse effects; Smoking - immunology; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 - metabolism; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1442-200X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-200X.2009.02864.x

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal smoking during pregnancy on human milk interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 levels at the postpartum seventh day. Forty-four mothers (age range: 21-34 years) were enrolled in the study. Mothers were interviewed and classified according to their smoking status into one of two groups: the smoking mothers (n= 21) and the nonsmoking mothers (n= 23). There were no significant differences between study groups with respect to human milk interleukin-1beta (P= 0.12) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 levels (P= 0.83). However, TNF-alpha levels were found to be significantly lower in the smoking mothers compared with the controls (P= 0.002). This study shows that maternal smoking during pregnancy affects the levels of TNF-alpha in milk. The protective effect of human milk against infections seems to be impaired in smoking mothers.