Concentrations of alpha‐ and gamma‐tocopherols in human breast milk during the first months of lactation and in infant formulas

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of alpha- and gamma-tocopherols in human breast milk samples from different periods of lactation and to compare them with tocopherol content in commercially available formulas for infants at corresponding ages. The study included 93 breast milk samples obtained on the 2nd (colostrum, n = 17), 14th (n = 30), 30th (n = 27) and 90th day of lactation (n = 19), along with 90 samples of commercially available initial and follow-on infant formulas. Concentrations of tocopherols were determined using normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Depending on the stage of lactation, human breast milk contained 2.07-9.99 mg L⁻¹ of alpha-tocopherol and 0.22-0.60 mg L⁻¹ of gamma-tocopherol. Breast milk concentrations of alpha-tocopherol decreased with the time of lactation, while significant differences in gamma-tocopherol concentration were observed only between the 14th and 30th day of lactation. There was no significant correlation between the dietary intake of vitamin E and its estimated breast milk concentration, also in women who declared vitamin supplementation. Compared with colostrum, infant formulas were characterised by significantly lower concentrations of alpha-tocopherol and vitamin E. This finding indicates the need of additional vitamin E supplementation of bottle-fed infants during the initial 2-3 days of life.

Vitamin E concentration in human milk and associated factors: a literature review

“…In that study, the concentration of vitamin E in milk was not higher in women who received the vitamin supplements recommended for pregnant and lactating women, compared to those who did not (p = 0.332). Also in Poland, Martysiak-Zurowska et al 17 obtained similar results, with no correlation between dietary vitamin E intake and the use of supplements with the concentration of alpha-tocopherol in breast milk.…”

“…At the mature milk stage, when this secretion no longer undergoes major compositional variations, levels of alpha tocopherol appear to remain constant over time. This was verified in Poland 17 and Greece, 21 where collections of mature milk were performed in different months during the postpartum period, yielding values of alpha-tocopherol that did not differ significantly (Table 1).…”

Vitamina E No Leite Humano E Sua Relação Com O Requerimento Nutricional Do Recém-Nascido a Termo

“…Its composition changes during the lactation period, in accordance with the needs of the newborn 4 . It is known that the content of vitamin E decreases as the time of lactation increases, and that colostrum has the highest content of this vitamin 5 …”

A Comparison of Nutritional Antioxidant Content in Breast Milk, Donor Milk, and Infant Formulas

“…This is primarily due to in the use of soy oils, which are extremely high in γ-tocopherol, as the primary lipid component in infant formulas [34]. While human breast milk has been shown to contain some γ-tocopherol, previous studies have shown the content of γ-tocopherol in infant formula to be up to seven times higher than that in human milk [35]. Our findings concur with this report, demonstrating γ-tocopherol levels in our formula samples to be 3.5–5.6 times higher than in maternal breast milk samples.…”

“…This level of γ-tocopherol in infant formula does not appear to provide similar protection from lipid peroxidation as human milk [36]. Serum levels of γ-tocopherol in infants have been shown to increase during the first week of life [37], presumably from dietary sources [35]. Recently, our understanding of these tocopherols isoforms has expanded as new evidence indicates that vitamin E isoforms have different roles in influencing inflammation.…”