Influence of milk-derived lactoferrin on intestinal microbial flora in mice

Purpose: To learn more about the role of Lactoferrin on intestinal microflora and provide a scientific basis for the development of functional foods with intestinal health maintenance, the changes and characteristics of some representative microbial populations were investigated, which exist in mice intestine when orally administered with Lactoferrin.Method: After having been fed for a week, mice were randomly divided into five groups.Each mouse in control group was fed normally, placebo group was given normal saline 0.2mL/ (kg·d) , low-dose group was given lactoferrin 1mg/ (kg·d) , middle-dose group was given lactoferrin 10mg/ (kg·d) and high-dose group was given lactoferrin 100mg/ (kg·d) respectively for 14d. Fecal flora in every group of mice were measured by traditional culture techniques, and the changes of intestinal flora in mice were analyzed. Results indicated that during lactoferrin groups (10mg/ (kg·d ) ) in mice, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium significantly increased compared with that in the normal control (p < 0.05) ; while the number of Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococci in mice intestinal tract decreased significantly (p < 0.05) .Conclusions: The experiment demonstrated that a certain dose of lactoferrin ( 10mg/ (kg·d) had a benefit on promoting the growth of intestinal probiotics and conventional symbiotic bacteria, whereas for Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococci etc.had certain inhibitory effect.