Question

Statement I - Human milk contain higher concentrations of lactoferrin, NPN, and lactose than that of cow milk
Statement II - Human milk contain higher concentrations of lactose and lactoferrin than that of cow milk while concentration of NPN is more in cow milk than that of human milk
In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
• B. Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect
• C. Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
• D. Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Hint:

Human milk has lower total protein but significantly higher lactose, lactoferrin, and non-protein nitrogen (NPN) fractions than cow milk.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Human milk and bovine (cow) milk differ in their macro- and micro-nutrient composition to meet the distinct physiological needs of their respective infants.
Key differences include the concentrations of lactose, protective whey proteins like lactoferrin, and non-protein nitrogen (NPN) compounds.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us compare the compositional aspects mentioned in both statements:
- Lactose: Human milk contains approximately 0% lactose, whereas cow milk contains only about 8% lactose.
- Lactoferrin: Human milk is extremely rich in lactoferrin, containing about 0 to 0 g/L, which provides vital immunological and iron-binding benefits to the infant.
In contrast, cow milk contains only trace amounts of lactoferrin (approximately 0.1 g/L).
- Non-Protein Nitrogen (NPN): The NPN fraction includes urea, uric acid, creatine, and free amino acids.
In human milk, NPN accounts for a high proportion of the total nitrogen (about 20% to 25%).
In cow milk, NPN makes up only about 5% of the total nitrogen.
In absolute terms, human milk contains higher concentrations of NPN (about 30 to 50 mg/100 mL) compared to cow milk (about 20 to 30 mg/100 mL).
Therefore, Statement I is correct because human milk has higher levels of lactoferrin, NPN, and lactose.
Statement II is incorrect because it falsely asserts that the concentration of NPN is higher in cow milk.

Step 3: Final Answer
The correct option is (C).