Changes in the Concentration of Carotenoids, Vitamin A, Alpha-Tocopherol and Total Lipids in Human Milk throughout Early Lactation

Abstract

Background: In mammals the composition of milk changes during early lactation showing a rapid decline in fat-soluble vitamins and a continuous increase in total lipids. Changes in the concentrations of carotenoids, vitamin A, α-tocopherol and total lipids in human milk (colostrum, transitory and mature milk) were studied to understand this not well characterised phenomenon. Methods: Colostrum, transitory and mature milk was collected from 21 women and analysed for carotenoids, vitamin A and α-tocopherol by HPLC. Results: Total lipids increased from the lowest levels in colostrum (1.5 ± 1.6 mg/ml) to the highest in transitory milk (3.6 ± 2.5 mg/ml, p < 0.01). Contrary to this, levels of total carotenoids (236.7 ± 121.9 ng/ml), vitamin A (1.02 ± 0.56 µg/ml) and α-tocopherol (11.8 ± 6.3 µg/ml) were highest in colostrum and declined significantly during the first weeks of lactation (63.2 ± 23.3 ng/ml, 0.33 ± 0.14 µg/ml, 2.7 ± 1.1 µg/ml, respectively; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The magnitude of decrease was not the same for all carotenoids and was dependent on the polarity of the carotenoid with the smallest decrease in the polar carotenoids. This might be due to differences in the distribution of carotenoids among plasma lipoproteins and might point to possible selective mechanisms being involved in the transfer of these components in early human milk.

A comparison of lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations in formula and human milk samples from Northern Ireland mothers

“…Median lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations in human milk found in this study (4.79 and 0.55 nmol/g fat, respectively) compare well with those of Macias and Schweigert (2001), who report concentrations of 3.41 mg/g (5.29 nmol/g) fat and 0.47 mg/g (0.73 nmol/g) fat for lutein and zeaxanthin, respectively. They found that concentrations of all components investigated (lutein, zeaxanthin, bcryptoxanthin, lycopene, a-and b-carotene, and retinol) decreased over time with highest values in colostrum and lowest in mature milk.…”

“…Breast milk concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin appear to differ greatly between individuals, as is also seen in plasma (Thurnham & Northrop-Clewes, 1999). Jackson et al (1998) and Macias and Schweigert (2001) also reported a high between-subject variation in his study of milk carotenoid concentrations. The coefficient of between-subject variation in the combined lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations reported was 68% by Jackson et al (1998), and was approximately the same as found in the Irish samples (CV 68% for lutein and 72% for zeaxanthin).…”

Avaliação dos níveis de retinol no colostro humano coletado no intervalo de 24 horas

“…15 There was no deficiency of vitamin A in the breastmilk according to parameters established by the WHO. When retinol concentrations were expressed in terms of volume of milk, a large variation was observed between collection times, although the concentrations in pooled samples were closer to vitamin A levels described in literature 15 ( Table 1).…”

Supplementation with the omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid: influence on the lipid composition and fatty acid profile of human milk

“…Variation of the total fat content of the milk of the study group OG during the lactating period was similar to those found by other studies 36,37 , showing that fat content decreases over time, possibly because of a reduction in the maternal fat reserves 24 . However, the total fat contents were with in the ranges found in the literature for mature milk 38 .…”