الفهرس 
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Abstract
Mammalian milk contains a variety of nutrients, cells, enzymes, cytokines, proteins, peptides and steroids that possess biological activity .There are three phases of milk production: colostrum (1–5 day postpartum), transitional milk (6–15 days postpartum) and mature milk (after 15 days) .Comparative studies of the concentrations of hormones and growth factors have shown that the highest concentrations occur in colostrums .Milk and colostrum aid in preventing metabolic disorders and chronic diseases in newborn and have been called ‘‘functional food’’ because they have other roles in addition to simple nutrition.
Obestatin recently discovered hormone. This is a small anorexigenic peptide formed of 23 amino acids (FNAPFDVGIKLSGVQYQQHSQAL-NH2) produced by the cells lining the human stomach and small intestine and by the salivary glands . It is also involved in energy balance regulation and antagonizes the actions of ghrelin . If breast milk contains obestatin, it may influence the regulation of energy balance and may signal food restriction when babies are fully fed. Ghrelin and obestatin are formed from the same prohormone encoded in the same gene , so obestatin,like ghrelin, might be present in the milk.
The present study was designed to assess the obestatin levels in colostrums ;mature milk and serum of lactating mothers of full term infants and compare them to levels obtained from preterm infants’ mothers .In this work, the 30 studied apparently healthy mothers and their newborns who were delivered at the Gynecology and Obstetric department of Suzan Mubarak Pediatric; Gynecology and obstetrics –El- Minia University Hospital over the period from March to June and were divided into two groups:
* Group Ι: Included 15 females who had given birth to full term ; The mean age was 25 years ranging between(21- 35 years);mean gestational age(±39weeks)and their mean babies weight(±3.500kg).
*Group ΙΙ: Included15 females who had given birth to preterm babies; the mean age was 24 years ranging between (20-32 years). mean gestational age was ( ±34weeks)and their mean babies weight was (±1.800kg).
All mothers and their newborn were subjected to the following; thorough history taking; clinical examination of women ;neonatal examination and laboratory investigations including estimation of obestatin levels in colostrum & mature milk and serum corresponding to milk period using ELISA technique.
The results of our study revealed that the anthropometric measurements(weight, height, BMI ) of mothers were significantly lower in preterm delivered mothers as compared to full term delivered mothers. As regarding the parity; our study reveals that the parity decreased significantly in preterm mothers as compaired to full mothers. On the other hand there was no statistical significant difference of the maternal age between the two groups.