STEROID CONTENT OF HUMAN MILK

Pooled milk specimens of 10 healthy lying-in women were collected on the 2nd to 10th day and on the 15th, 20th and 25th day post partum and the content of estrogens, pregnandiol and 17-ketosteroids was determined. The concentrations of estrogens were highest on the 5th day post partum and were found to decrease thereafter gradually until the 10th day post partum. Pregnandiol, in contrast, could be proved during the first four days p.p. only. 3 α, 20 β-pregnandiol could also be found in the milk of healthy women. The concentration of 17-ketosteroids in human milk was found to be very high. The mode of falling off is similar to that of estrogens. A quantitative relationship between steroid content of ingested human milk and excretion of the hormone with the urine of the newborn was discussed. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.