Lactoferrin is an iron binding protein, is present in human milk and the milk of all mammals, is also present in saliva, tears, trachea, nasal secretions, pancreatic juice and other body secretions, which have bactericidal and inhibitory the role of bacteria. Bactericidal effect of lactoferrin is not its ability to compete for iron and bacteria, whereas the inhibitory effect is related with and iron-binding. Overall antibacterial milk is undoubtedly due to the synergistic protective effect of non-immunoglobulin proteins and immunoglobulins, which is greater than the sum of the individual works. Protective milk protein function is: 1) to protect the breast from infection; 2) protect newborn mammals. Behind it seems to be more important, because there is more to this activity in vivo evidence. 5% iron crust, so it is not surprising that a key role in a variety of life processes throughout nature, a wide range of biological processes involved in the iron and for its necessity. These processes include electron transfer, oxygen transport, storage and activation as well as nitrogen fixation. Iron is also a variety of enzymes essential cofactors, including DNA synthesis enzymes. Iron is a transitional element, having from divalent to hexavalent oxidation state, in order to balance between divalent and trivalent best represents the characteristics of its use in nature. Ferric iron formation at physiological pH (Fe3 +) is insoluble in water, it is difficult for animals and other organisms use, in order to use and transport of such metals in the formation of the complex nature of the iron binding and transport methods.
Some bioavailable small non-protein molecules called siderophores (siderophores), and higher organisms may make use of a number of protein molecules. Breast system has two chelated iron proteins: transferrin (transferrin) and lactoferrin (lactoferrin Transferrin main blood protein, lactoferrin is a secreted protein in milk.