The Antioxidant Capacity of Breast Milk and Plasma of Women with or without Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Women with gestational diabetes (GD) have reduced antioxidant capacity; however, the relationship between maternal diet, maternal biochemical capacity, breast milk concentration, and infant intake has not been adequately explored in the literature. An exploration of underlying mechanism(s) is warranted, particularly for nutrient antioxidants impacted by maternal intake. These nutrients may provide a means for modifying maternal and infant antioxidant capacity. Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and beta-carotene concentrations were measured in breast milk of women with and without GD. Plasma, three-day diet records, and breast milk were collected at 6 to 8 weeks postpartum. Student’s t-test was used to compare breast milk ORAC, nutrient antioxidant concentration and plasma ORAC between women with and without GD. Pearson correlations were used to determine associations among antioxidant concentrations in breast milk and dietary antioxidant intake. Breast milk antioxidant concentrations were associated with maternal intake of beta-carotene (r = 0.629, p = 0.005). Breast milk and plasma ORAC and antioxidant vitamin concentrations were not significantly different between GD and NG women. Breast milk ORAC associated with breast milk alpha-tocopherol for NG (r = 0.763, p = 0.010), but not GD women (r = 0.385, p = 0.35), and with breast milk ascorbic acid for GD (r = 0.722, p = 0.043) but not NG women (r = 0.141, p = 0.70; interaction p = 0.041). In GD participants, breast milk ORAC was significantly associated with plasma ORAC (r = 0.780, p = 0.039). ORAC and antioxidant vitamin concentrations in breast milk in women with GD were comparable to women with NG; however, the relationships between breast milk ORAC and vitamin concentrations differed in GD versus NG women for alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid.

The Effect of Holder Pasteurization and Different Variants on Breast Milk Antioxidants

“…In a previous study, the BM of mothers with gestational diabetes had similar ORAC levels compared to non-diabetic mothers. BM ORAC was positively correlated with BM ascorbic acid in mothers with gestational diabetes [8]. Colostrum showed significantly higher ORAC values compared with mature milk [32].…”

“…A recent meta-analysis of the effect of HoP on the antioxidant properties of human milk showed inconclusive results regarding the effect of pasteurization on the TAC of BM [7]. Some studies proved a reduction in TAC after HoP compared with untreated BM, while others detected no influence of Holder pasteurization [8].…”

“…Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) refers to the overall antioxidant capacity of a substance, including the combined effects of various antioxidants. In the context of breast milk, non-enzymatic TAC represents the collective antioxidant capacity of the antioxidants present in breast milk [7,8]. These antioxidants include vitamins (such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene), minerals (such as selenium and zinc), and other bioactive compounds (such as bilirubin) [9].…”

“…BM TAC can be estimated with ORAC, a standardized and validated method to measure the antioxidant capacity in biological samples in vitro. It assesses the ability of antioxidants to neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress [8][9][10]. BM contains a dynamic and diverse array of anti-and prooxidants, and their interactions affect the ORAC level [8].…”

“…It assesses the ability of antioxidants to neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress [8][9][10]. BM contains a dynamic and diverse array of anti-and prooxidants, and their interactions affect the ORAC level [8].…”