Protein content of human milk is

Appeared in: UPPSC 2017

Explanation

The protein content of mature human milk is approximately 1.1 g/100 ml (or 1.1 g/dL).
This concentration is perfectly adapted to the metabolic and renal capacities of a human infant.
Human milk contains a whey-to-casein protein ratio of about 60:40, which makes it easier to digest compared to cow's milk (20:80 ratio).
The primary proteins include alpha-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, lysozyme, and secretory IgA, which have both nutritional and anti-infective properties.

Option B: This value is double the actual protein content of human milk and is not physiologically correct.
Option C: This is the approximate protein content of cow's milk, not human milk. It is about three times higher than the protein in human milk.
Option D: This value is excessively high and does not represent the protein content of human milk. Such a high protein load would be harmful to an infant's kidneys.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Nutritional composition of human breast milk as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the low protein content of human milk is crucial for nurses to educate mothers against early or improper introduction of cow's milk, which can cause renal stress in infants.
Patient education on breastfeeding should emphasize that human milk is a complete food for the first 6 months, perfectly balanced for human infant needs, including easy-to-digest proteins.
What if the infant has a specific metabolic disorder like Phenylketonuria (PKU)? The infant would require a special low-phenylalanine formula, as even the protein in breast milk might be too high in this specific amino acid.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept of the question, which is the specific nutritional composition of human milk.
This is a factual recall question. Access your knowledge about infant nutrition and breastfeeding.
Recall the approximate protein value in human milk. The value is low, around 1 g/100 ml.
Evaluate the given options. Select the option that matches the recalled value (1.1 g/100 ml).
Be aware of common distractors, such as the protein content of cow's milk (3.3 g/100 ml), which is often included in such questions.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 35-37

E6 Textbook of Biochemistry for medical StudentsDM Vasudevan Part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-239 of 478) p. 98-100

Practise the full UPPSC 2017

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.