Superoxide dismutase (SOD, BC 1.15.1.1) catalyses the dismutation of the superoxide anion and is a metalloenzyme ubiquitous to living organisms. The enzyme is also contained in bovine milk and has been suggsted to diminish the oxidative problems associated with the superoxide anion. The present study is an attempt to determine the concentration of SOD in human colostrum and in mature milk to make a comparison with the values in bovine milk and human blood. Human colostrum and mature milk samples were respectively collected from 15 and 12 healthy lactating women at Machida Municipal Hospital and those living in Machida-shi. The samples immediately cooled in a refrigerator (at less than 5°C), skimmed by centrifugation at 1500 x 9 for 20 min and stored at-80°C until being assayed.

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