Retinol and α-tocopherol concentrations in breast milk of Turkish lactating mothers under different socio-economic status

Abstract

Retinol and alpha-tocopherol levels in breast milk of Turkish mothers under different socioeconomic status were investigated. Mature milk samples were collected from 92 lactating mothers living in Izmir and in Manisa, cities of Turkey, who were at 60-90 days of the lactating period. Socio-economic, anthropometric, and dietary data were collected by means of a questionnaire. The body mass index was used to determine the nutritional status. The retinol and alpha-tocopherol contents of breast milk were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography; the concentration of alpha-tocopherol was 9.84 microg/ml whereas retinol levels were 81.5 microg/100 ml. The questionnaire survey was used to determine the level of these vitamins in the daily ration of the women. No significant differences were found in terms of milk retinol and alpha-tocopherol levels for the variables income, educational level and mothers' body mass index.

Most fortificated nutraceutical vitamins: standpoint from biochemistry, functionality, utilization strategies and medical genomics

“…It was reported that there was not any statistically significant relation between vitamin E levels in mothers' milk and frequency of consumption of any type of food (p>0.05) (31). There was not any significant relation between as body mass index (BMI) of the mothers and that vitamin levels in their milk,either (31).…”

“…Vitamin E is higher in colostrum than mature milk, which contains approximately 3 IU/L(1 IU=1.5 mg). Thus, mature human milk comes close to meeting the DRI of 3 IU per day of vitamin E. Supplementation of the maternal diet with relatively large amounts of vitamin E is necessary to increase the milk levels of this vitamin (31). Vitamin E level in breast milk of Turkish mothers was 9.84 μg/ml whereas 7.7 μg/ml in a study in EastJakarta and 9.7 μg/ml in a study in Germany (31,34,35).…”

“…Thus, mature human milk comes close to meeting the DRI of 3 IU per day of vitamin E. Supplementation of the maternal diet with relatively large amounts of vitamin E is necessary to increase the milk levels of this vitamin (31). Vitamin E level in breast milk of Turkish mothers was 9.84 μg/ml whereas 7.7 μg/ml in a study in EastJakarta and 9.7 μg/ml in a study in Germany (31,34,35). China breast milk level of Vitamin E was reported as 6.98 μg/100 ml which is considered to be low when compared with those from Europe, USA, and Japan (36).…”

“…The total lipid of breast milk is not strongly affected by the diet, but is related to maternal body composition (31,33). It was reported that there was not any statistically significant relation between vitamin E levels in mothers' milk and frequency of consumption of any type of food (p>0.05) (31).…”

“…Tocopherols which have antiatherosclerotic, anticarcinogen, and antisterilitic effects are strong antioxidants for the body. Tocopherol level is inadequate in premature infants and hemolytic anaemia may develop if it is also deficient in breast milk and if the infant is fed with formulas containing rich levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) but low levels of vitamin E. In this context, the vitamin E composition of breast milk is important (31,32).…”