Nutrition: human versus cow milk: practice question

A Pediatrics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pediatrics · Nutrition: human versus cow milk

Sample item

Which statement correctly compares human milk with undiluted cow's milk?

AHuman milk has more calcium and phosphorusBHuman milk has more lactose and less proteinCHuman milk has more casein than wheyDHuman milk has more protein and less lactose

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Human milk has more lactose and less protein

Human milk contains about 7 g per 100 ml lactose and about 1 g per 100 ml protein, with predominantly whey proteins. Cow's milk contains about 4.5 g lactose and 3.3 g protein, mostly casein, and has a higher solute load. The low renal solute load of human milk suits the immature infant kidney.

Option by option

A. Human milk has more calcium and phosphorus
Calcium and phosphorus are higher in cow's milk.
B. Human milk has more lactose and less protein (correct)
Correct. Human milk is higher in lactose and lower in protein.
C. Human milk has more casein than whey
Human milk is whey dominant and cow's milk is casein dominant.
D. Human milk has more protein and less lactose
Protein is higher in cow's milk.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is B, Human milk has more lactose and less protein. Human milk contains about 7 g per 100 ml lactose and about 1 g per 100 ml protein, with predominantly whey proteins.

Why is "Human milk has more calcium and phosphorus" not the answer?

Calcium and phosphorus are higher in cow's milk.

Why is "Human milk has more casein than whey" not the answer?

Human milk is whey dominant and cow's milk is casein dominant.

Why is "Human milk has more protein and less lactose" not the answer?

Protein is higher in cow's milk.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nutrition: human versus cow milk in Pediatrics. Cow's milk contains about 4.5 g lactose and 3.3 g protein, mostly casein, and has a higher solute load. The low renal solute load of human milk suits the immature infant kidney.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Nutrition: human versus cow milk?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.