Human breast milk stimulates low density lipoprotein (LDL) binding to human skin fibroblasts in culture

Human breast milk incorporated at 1% concentration into the culture medium significantly (p less than 0.05) increased the binding of 125I-LDL to receptors of human skin fibroblasts in culture. Homogenized cows milk and infant formula (Similac) also possessed this stimulating property. The stimulating activity of milk persisted after dialysis and extraction with cold acetone. These preliminary studies suggest that milk might contain potent factor(s) influencing cholesterol metabolic process in early life.