Zinc and copper in infants fed breast-milk or different formula

Abstract

In 129 term infants at birth and at the age of 4 months, zinc and copper concentrations of plasma and urine were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry and the values correlated to other biochemical parameters and somatic data. Of the infants, 49 were exclusively breast-fed, 44 fed with various commercially available cow's milk formula, 35 fed with a hypoallergenic formula (cows's milk whey hydrolysate, commercially available, supplemented with zinc and copper). Plasma zinc values declined from birth to the age of 4 months in all three groups (P < 0.001). In formula fed children, 4 months old, the values (11.1 +/- 1.7 mumol Zn/l) were significantly lower than in breast-fed (12.2 +/- 1.7 mumol Zn/l; P = 0.004) or babies on hypo-allergenic formula (12.4 +/- 1.6 mumol Zn/l; P = 0.0015). In accordance with the literature plasma copper and caeruloplasmin values increased significantly within the first 4 months of life, the plasma levels were similar in either feeding group, only urinary copper excretion was higher in male infants on hypo-allergenic formula (P < 0.03) at the age of 4 months. There were no correlations between zinc or copper values and alkaline phosphatase. In infants on hypo-allergenic formula there was a negative correlation between plasma zinc and weight or height increments. Despite different zinc and copper supply, presumedly different bioavailability, and different plasma zinc values, all infants thrived and weight and length increments were similar in each group.

Trace element transfer from the mother to the newborn — investigations on triplets of colostrum, maternal and umbilical cord sera

“…In a recent study, Frkovic et al, (1996) quanti®ed 1180 AE 210 mgaL in 42 samples of umbilical cord plasma. Another study reported umbilical cord plasma Zn levels of 928 AE 203 mgaL decreasing by four months of age to 725 AE 112 mgaL in formula-fed infants, to 807 AE 108 mgaL in hypoallergenic-fed infants, and to 794 AE 113 mgaL in breast-fed infants (Lombeck and Fuchs, 1994). Alimonti et al (1997) published a median of 920 mgaL (range: 390 to 1290 mgaL) and a median of 918 mgaL (range: 618 to 1192 mgaL) for term and pre-term newborns, respectively.…”

“…However, serum Cu of the mothers (2030 AE 520 mgaL) is signi®cantly higher than the reference range, indicating a mobilisation of copper in the maternal organism during pregnancy. A recent study gave 388 AE 140 mgaL in umbilical cord plasma of 129 newborns (Lombeck and Fuchs, 1994). At the age of four months plasma Cu levels of these infants increased signi®cantly to approximately 860 mgaL, independently of the nutrient supplied to the infants (Lombeck and Fuchs, 1994).…”

“…A recent study gave 388 AE 140 mgaL in umbilical cord plasma of 129 newborns (Lombeck and Fuchs, 1994). At the age of four months plasma Cu levels of these infants increased signi®cantly to approximately 860 mgaL, independently of the nutrient supplied to the infants (Lombeck and Fuchs, 1994). Alimonti et al (1997) found medians for Cu in umbilical cord sera of 314 mgaL (range: 101 to 798 mgaL) and 206 mgaL (range: 78.8 to 959 mgaL) for 40 term and 20 pre-term newborns, respectively.…”

“…Almost all studies concentrated on the trace element status of adult subjects. However, trace elements in umbilical cord sera of newborns have different concentrations compared to the sera of infants and of children or of adults, and may re¯ect the trace element status of the mother (Schramel et al, 1988a and b;Bra Ètter et al, 1991;Lombeck and Fuchs, 1994;Frkovic et al, 1996;Schumacher et al, 1996).…”

The Serum Concentrations of Trace Elements and Vitamin A in Turkish Six-Month-Old Infants with Different Feeding Practices

“…In our literature review, we found one study that compared serum zinc levels of 6 mo old BMO fed infants and formula fed infants. Lombeck and Fuchs compared serum zinc and copper levels of 129 term infants at birth and at the fourth month and found that formula fed infants had lower levels of zinc and copper compared to BM fed infants (24).…”