Lactoferrin

Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein. It occurs in breast milk and mucosal secretions and is stored in neutrophil granulocytes – immune cells that migrate into tissue during inflammation. Lactoferrin is measured in stool.

What lactoferrin does in the body

Lactoferrin binds iron very tightly and thus withholds it from bacteria that need it to grow. It can also attack the outer layer of some bacteria directly and is involved in controlling inflammatory responses. It is stable in stool and can therefore be measured reliably as an indicator of immune cells in the gut.

Low lactoferrin – what does it mean?

A low value is the normal case. It speaks against an increased migration of neutrophil immune cells into the gut lining. Breastfed infants have higher values because they take in lactoferrin with breast milk.

Raised lactoferrin – what does it mean?

A raised value shows that neutrophil granulocytes are reaching the gut – that is, an inflammatory process in the gut lining. This occurs, for example, with bacterial gut infections, with chronic inflammatory bowel disease or after taking certain painkillers (NSAIDs). Together with calprotectin, lactoferrin helps to assess whether gut symptoms are more likely inflammatory or functional; the cause is clarified by the treating practice.

The interpretation is given in your report.