Copper, zinc, and magnesium content of breast milk of Indian women

Abstract

Copper, zinc, and magnesium contents were determined in samples of breast milk obtained from 412 women in a low income group, from 100 women in a high income group of an urban population, and from 22 women from a low income group living in a rural area. Paired samples of milk and serum were collected from 152 women and the concentrations of copper and zinc in these two fluids were estimated. Copper levels fell from 0.46 microgram/ml in colostrum to 0.17 microgram/ml at 7 to 12 months of lactation; zince levels fell from 5.32 to 1.12 microgram/ml by 7 months. Magnesium level in colostrum was 40 micrograms/ml and reached a stable level of around 30 micrograms/ml in mature milk samples. Concentrations of copper and zinc in serum were not correlated with those in milk. Day to day and diurnal variations in the concentrations of these elements in milk were not significant indicating thereby that analysis of one sample provides satisfactory information of the trace element content in milk. There were no differences in the levels of these elements in milk between rural and urban low income groups of women. However significant differences were noted in the copper and zinc contents of milk of women from low and high income groups of the urban population, from the 1st to 3rd month of lactation.

Zinc and copper contents in breast milk of japanese women.

“…It is known that copper levels rise during the pregnancy, and fall to normal values by approximately 6 weeks after delivery (Shaw 1980). However, no significant correlation in zinc or copper content was observed between milk and serum samples, in agreement with the previous findings by Rajalakshmi and Srikantia (1980). Similarly, zinc and copper levels of maternal hair samples showed no correlation with those of the breast milk samples.…”

Association Between Zinc, Copper, and Iron Concentrations in Breast Milk and Growth of Healthy Infants in Tabriz, Iran

“…Minerals and trace elements are essential micronutrients for growth, development, and maintenance of healthy tissues [1], and there are reports suggesting that trace element deficiencies can lead to impaired growth during infancy and childhood [2]. Iron and zinc deficiency is public health concerns during infancy, especially in developing countries [3].…”

The effects of zinc supplementation on zinc, retinol and carotene levels in lactating Amazonian women

“…When the study was being planned no randomized placebo-controlled zinc supplementation trials during breastfeeding existed in the literature and evidence as to whether dietary intakes influenced breastmilk zinc levels was not very conclusive. Significant differences in milk zinc levels had been observed between high income and low-income women in India (Rajalakshmi & Srikantia 1980) while other observational studies had found no relationship between milk zinc levels and maternal dietary intakes (Vaughan et al 1979;Vuori et al 1980) or with zinc supplement consumption (Picciano & Guthrie 1976;Kirksey et al 1979), albeit these studies had been done on well-nourished American women.…”