Which statement about colostrum is accurate?

Which statement about colostrum is accurate?

• A. The milk contains immunoglobulins and higher protein content than mature milk.
• B. Colostrum is produced only after two weeks.
• C. Colostrum lacks vitamin K.
• D. Colostrum is identical to mature milk in composition.

Answer: (A)

Colostrum is the first breast milk the baby gets, produced in late pregnancy and for a few days after birth. It’s packed with immune stuff, especially immunoglobulins like IgA, and has higher protein content than mature milk. That combination gives the newborn immediate passive immunity and helps protect the gut as it starts digesting milk. So this statement is best because it captures the key difference: colostrum’s immune components and higher protein load compared with mature milk. It isn’t true that colostrum is produced only after two weeks—it's produced right after birth for a short time before transitioning to mature milk. It also isn’t accurate to say it lacks vitamin K; colostrum does contain vitamin K, though its main distinguishing features are the high immunoglobulin and protein content and lower fat and lactose compared with mature milk. And, clearly, colostrum is not identical to mature milk.

Colostrum is the first breast milk the baby gets, produced in late pregnancy and for a few days after birth. It’s packed with immune stuff, especially immunoglobulins like IgA, and has higher protein content than mature milk. That combination gives the newborn immediate passive immunity and helps protect the gut as it starts digesting milk.

So this statement is best because it captures the key difference: colostrum’s immune components and higher protein load compared with mature milk. It isn’t true that colostrum is produced only after two weeks—it's produced right after birth for a short time before transitioning to mature milk. It also isn’t accurate to say it lacks vitamin K; colostrum does contain vitamin K, though its main distinguishing features are the high immunoglobulin and protein content and lower fat and lactose compared with mature milk. And, clearly, colostrum is not identical to mature milk.