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Summary: A low-molecular-weight zinc-binding ligand from human milk has been isolated and characterized. The ligand was isolated by chromatography on Dowex 50, Dowex 1, and Sephadex G-15
equilibrated with 0.153 mM Zn(NO3)2. Mass spectroscopy, thin-layer chromatography, and infrared spectroscopy proved that the zinc-binding ligand isolated by this method from human milk is
pyridine-2-carboxylic acid, commonly known as picolinic acid. The concentration of picolinic acid in human milk was 308 μM, the concentration in one brand of processed cow's milk was 20 μM,
but picolinic acid was undetectable in a second brand of cow's milk and in four different infant formulas. Weanling rats fed supplemental picolinic acid absorbed significantly more dietary
zinc and gained significantly more weight than rats fed an unsupplemented diet. The results suggest that the high bioavailability of zinc in human milk results from the presence of picolinic
acid, a bidentate chelating ligand which facilitates zinc absorption from the intestine.
Speculation: The high bioavailability of zinc in human milk results from the presence of picolinic acid, a bidentate chelating ligand which facilitates zinc absorption from the intestine.
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