Objective Because maternal epidermal growth factor (EGF) may be an adaptive response to a ccelerate growth and maturation in premature infants, we compared the EGF conten t in fresh cow’s milk and cow’s milk-based infant formulas with full and prete rm mother’s milk. Methods EGF content of 57 human colostrum from mothers delivering prematurely a nd at term, 4 different fresh cow’s milk and 8 different cow’s milk-bas ed infant formulas was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Results Human milk from mothers of premature infants had a higher EGF content compared t o that from mothers of term infants (28.2±10.3?nmol/L vs 17.3±9.6?nmol/L ). EGF content in human milk negatively correlated with gestational age and bir th weight of neonates. EGF content in fresh cow’s milk (13.8-18.2?nmol/L) wa s similar to that in human term milk. EGF levels in non-hydrolyzed protein for mulas were much lower (5.6-8.6?nmol/L), and were undetactable in hydrolyzed p rotein formulas. Conclusion The high EGF content in premature milk may represent a maternal compensatory mec hanism to accelerate the growth and development of immature infants. Feeding in fants with breast milk from their own mother should be advocated since there is lack of EGF in cow’s milk-based infant formulas. Objective Because maternal epidermal growth factor (EGF) may be an adaptive response to a ccelerate growth and maturation in premature infants, we compared the EGF conten t in fresh cow’s milk and cow’s milk-based infant formulas with full and preterm rm mother’s milk. Methods EGF content of 57 human colostrum from mothers delivering prematurely a nd at term, 4 different fresh cow’s milk and 8 different cow’s milk-bas ed infant formula was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Results Human milk from mothers of premature infants had a higher EGF content compared to that from mothers of term infants (28.2 ± 10.3 nmol / L vs. 17.3 ± 9.6 nmol / L). EGF content in human milk negatively correlated with gestational age and bir th weight of neonates. EGF content in fresh cow’s milk (13.8-18.2 nmol / L) wa s similar to that in human term milk. EGF levels in non-hydrolyzed protein for mulas were much lower (5.6-8.6 nmol / L), and were undetactable in hydrolyzed potent formulas. Conclusion The h High EGF content in premature milk may represent a maternal compensatory mec hanism to accelerate the growth and development of immature infants. Feeding in fants with breast milk from their own mother should be advocated since there is lack of EGF in cow’s milk-based infant formulas.