Authors: Lydia Fanny¹, Theresia Dewi2
1,2. Nutrition Department, Health Polytechnic of Ministry of Health at Makassar, Indonesia
Emai : lydiafanny90@yahoo.com
Abstract
Breast milk contains various active factors, especially immunoglobulin/ antibody such as: IgA, IgG, and IgM, hormone, vitamin, cytokines, growth factors, component, prostaglandin, granulocyte, macrophages, and B lymphocyte and T lymphocyte. T lymphocyte cell is 80% of lymphocyte cell which is in breast milk and has phenotype of CD4 and CD8 in similar quantity. The antibody or main immunoglobulin in breast milk is IgA. Secretory of IgA (sIgA) protects mucosa membrane of digestive tract and respiratory. This research aims at knowing the influence of zinc toward the concentration of CD4 Serum and IgA breast milk on postpartum mother in Sudiang Raya, Makassar, Indonesia. Moreover, this research was experimental research by giving treatment/ intervention by zinc capsule to the postpartum mother for 3 months by Randomized Pre Test Post Test Control Group Design. This design was utilized to test the hypothesis which the researcher could control factors that would influence internal validity. The internal validity was controlled by observing regularly to the treatment and control group during the conducted research. Thus, the occurred events during the research could be recorded by the researcher. Meanwhile, the fault in measuring could be minimalized by not telling the gauge in a group which the subject was, measuring in more than once, and training the gauge so that he or she would be professional and would behave neutrally. The result of this research showed that there was a significant difference of IgA breast milk between control group and treatment group (p<0,05). There was no significant difference of concentration of CD4 serum between control group and treatment group (p>0,05). However, the conclusion of this research was there was an influence of giving zinc as an effort in improving baby’s immune.
Key words: Breast milk, IgA, Zinc, CD4 serum