Galactagogue

Goat's rue (Galega officinalis) is one plant that is thought to promote lactation

A galactagogue, or galactogogue, (from Greek: γάλα [γαλακτ-], milk, + ἀγωγός, leading) is a substance that promotes lactation in humans and other animals.^[1][2] It may be synthetic, plant-derived, or endogenous. They may be used to treat lactation failure.

Pharmaceutical

Synthetic galactagogues such as domperidone and metoclopramide interact with the dopamine system in such a way to increase the production of prolactin; specifically, by blocking the D₂ receptor.^[3] There is some evidence to suggest that mothers who are unable to meet their infants' breastfeeding needs may benefit from galactogogues.^[4][5] Galactagogues may be considered when non-pharmacologic interventions are found to be insufficient.^[6][7] For example, domperidone may be an option for mothers of preterm babies who at over 14 days from delivery and after full lactation support still have difficulty expressing breast milk in sufficient quantity for their child's needs.^[8]

Domperidone (like metoclopramide, a D₂ receptor antagonist) is not approved for enhanced lactation in the USA.^[9][10] By contrast, Australian guidelines consider domperidone to be the preferred galactagogue when non-pharmacological approaches have proved insufficient.^[6] Unlike metoclopramide, domperidone does not cross the blood-brain barrier and does not tend to have adverse effects such as drowsiness or depression.^[6]

Other drugs which may increase lactation include:

• Antipsychotics such as risperidone, chlorpromazine and sulpiride, due to their ability to block the D₂ receptor^[11]
• Certain hormones such as oxytocin, growth hormone (GH), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)^[11]

Herbal

Herbals and foods used as galactogogues have little or no scientific evidence of efficacy, and the identity and purity of herbals are concerns because of inadequate testing requirements.^[12] The herbals most commonly cited as galactagogues are:^[12]

• shatavari (Asparagus racemosus)^[12]
• fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum)^[12][13]
• torbangun (Coleus amboinicus), which has been used by the Bataknese people of Indonesia as a galactogogue for hundreds of years.^[12][14]
• fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)^[12]
• milk thistle (Silybum marianum)^[12] In 2010 the European Food Safety Authority considered and rejected a claim for a silybum claim as a galactagogue because the evidence was deemed insufficient.
• chasteberry (Vitex agnus castus)^[12]
• goat’s rue (Galega officinalis)^[12]

Other herbals that have been claimed to be galactagogues include:

• blessed thistle^[15][16]
• alfalfa^[16]
• anise^[16]
• nettle^[16]
• oatmeal^[16]
• vervain^[16]
• red raspberry leaf^[16]
• marshmallow (althaea) root^[16]
• Moringa ^[17]

Herbal galactogogues are divided into those believed to also have a sedating action on the nursing infant due to their volatile constituents, which can be carried through the breast milk itself, and those seen as promoting milk production without directly affecting the content. This often seems to be linked to anethol content.^[18]

See also

• Galactorrhea
• Herbalism
• Hypothalamic–pituitary–prolactin axis

References

Further reading

• Diana West and L. Marasco, The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008.

External links

Look up galactagogue in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• New Zealand government website on Domperidone (Motilium) as a Galactogogue

Look up galactogogue in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.