Supplementation with a 200,000 IU megadose of vitamin A did not negatively affect α-tocopherol levels in colostrum.

Objectives: To determine the alpha-tocopherol concentration in breast milk at different periods of lactation and to estimate the possible supply of vitamin E to the infant.Methods: A longitudinal observational study was carried out with 100 mothers at University Hospital Ana Bezerra (HUAB), at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, in Santa Cruz (RN), Northeast Brazil. Samples of colostrum (n=100), transitional milk (n=77), and mature milk (n=63) were collected. Alpha-tocopherol was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Vitamin supply to the newborn was estimated by comparing the nutritional requirement of vitamin E (4 mg/day) with the potential daily intake of milk.Results: The mean alpha-tocopherol concentration found in colostrum, transitional, and mature milk was 40.5±15.0 µmol/L, 13.9±5.2 µmol/L, and 8.0±3.8 µmol/L, respectively (p<0.001). The possible effect of these milks offered to the infant 6.2 mg/day of vitamin E in colostrum, 4.7 mg/day in transitional milk, and 2.7 mg/day in mature milk (p<0.0001), shows that only the mature milk did not guarantee the recommended quantity of this vitamin.Conclusions: Alpha-tocopherol levels in human milk decrease through the progression of lactation, and the possible intake of colostrum and transitional milk met the nutritional requirement of the infant. Mature milk may provide smaller amounts of vitamin E. Thus, it is important to study the factors that are associated with such low levels.

Objectives: to evaluate levels of alpha-tocopherol i n t h e s e r u m a n d b re a s t -m i l k o f w o m e n a t v a r i o u s stages in lactation and to confirm whether nutrition a l l y a p p ro p r i a t e l e v e l s o f v i t a m i n E a re p re s e n t i n the milk given to the babies.Methods: thirty-two child-bearing women with an average age of 25 years took part in the study. 5 mL of blood and 2 mL of colostrum were collected, under fasting conditions,

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OBJETIVOS: avaliar a concentração de alfa-tocoferol no soro e colostro materno de puérperas adolescentes e adultas e verificar a adequação nutricional de vitamina E do colostro oferecido ao lactente. MÉTODOS: participaram do estudo 72 puérperas, sendo 25 adolescentes e 47 adultas. Foram coletados 5 mL de sangue e 2 mL de colostro em condição de jejum para análise dos níveis de alfa-tocoferol. As amostras foram analisadas por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência. A adequação nutricional do colostro para a vitamina E foi calculada pelo produto do volume estimado de ingestão de leite com a concentração de alfa-tocoferol no colostro e por comparação direta desse produto com o valor de referência para ingestão do nutriente (4 mg/dia). RESULTADOS: os níveis de alfa-tocoferol no soro de puérperas adolescentes e adultas foram, respectivamente, 30,8±9,8 e 34,1±9,5 μmol/L (média±DP). No colostro, as adolescentes apresentaram concentração de alfa-tocoferol de 32,9±15,8 μmol/L e as adultas de 30,4 ± 18,0 μmol/L, não sendo encontrada diferença significativa entre as concentrações séricas, assim como no colostro dos grupos estudados. CONCLUSÕES: Tanto as puérperas adolescentes quanto as adultas apresentaram um estado nutricional satisfatório de vitamina E refletido no colostro cujos valores foram capazes de suprir o requerimento nutricional do lactente, sugerindo que a idade materna não influencia os níveis de alfa-tocoferol do colostro humano.Abstract PURPOSE: to assess the alpha-tocopherol concentration in the serum and colostrum of adolescent and adult mothers and to determine the nutritional adequacy of vitamin E in the colostrum offered to infants. METHODS: in total, 72 pregnant women participated in the study, 25 adolescents and 47 adults. An amount of 5 mL of blood and 2 mL of colostrum were collected under fasting conditions for the analysis of alpha-tocopherol levels. The samples were analyzed by means of high performance liquid chromatography. Nutritional adequacy of colostrum for vitamin E was calculated as the product of the estimated volume of milk intake by the concentration of alpha-tocopherol in colostrum and by direct comparison of this product with the reference value for nutrient intake (4 mg/day). RESULTS: the levels of alphatocopherol in the serum of adolescents and adults were 30.8±9.8 and 34.1±9.5 μmol/L (mean±SD), respectively, and in colostrum, the adolescents showed a concentration of 32.9±15.8 μmol/L and the adults, a concentration of 30.4±18.0 μmol/L. No significant difference was found between concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in serum or in colostrum between adolescents and adults. CONCLUSIONS: Both adolescents and adult women had a satisfactory vitamin E nutritional status reflected in the colostrum, whose values were able to meet the nutritional requirements of infants, suggesting that the maternal age does not influence the levels of alpha-tocopherol in human colostrum.