Lactoferrin

Lactoferrin/Nutrient Depletion:

  • CalciumCalcium: In vitro, a decrease in human lactoferrin's ability to agglutinate Micrococcus lysodeikticus has been seen following interaction with calmodulin (an intra-cellular calcium binding protein) under the presence of calcium (de Lillo, 1992, 1544444}. Other cellular research has shown that calcium lacks a potentiating effect on human lactoferrin's antibacterial activity against Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (56). According to preliminary cellular research reported via published abstract, calcium exposure altered the secondary structure of bovine lactoferrin (specifically the ?-helix and ?-sheet) which, as purported by investigators, contributes to bovine lactoferrin's diminished antimicrobial capacity in the presence of calcium (60).
  • GlucoseGlucose: A case of minor hyperglycemia was observed following the use of bovine lactoferrin, albeit in a frequency similar to that observed with placebo (22).
  • IronIron: According to a letter responding to research previously conducted in humans, the iron binding capacity of lactoferrin was purportedly saturated by excess iron supplementation in breastfed infants (13). In human research, lactoferrin increased both total serum iron and serum hemoglobin levels in pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia (39; 28), but lacked evidence of benefit on iron absorption (70).
  • MagnesiumMagnesium: In cellular research, magnesium enhanced the antibacterial activity of human lactoferrin against Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (56).
  • PotassiumPotassium: In cellular research, potassium lacked evidence of potentiation of human lactoferrin's antibacterial activity against Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (56).