engleski

Essential mineral and trace element concentrations in maternal milk at various stages of lactation

Adequate nutrition during infancy is essential for lifelong health and wellbeing. Breast milk is considered to be the best source of nutrition for human infant. Breastfeeding is highly recommended in the first four to six months of life when complementary feeding becomes necessary. Trace elements and minerals play a vital role in many important body functions. Because of high growth and development rate, trace element and mineral requirements are more critical during this life period. The aim of this study was to determine several essential mineral and trace element concentrations in maternal milk at various stages of lactation. Breast milk was collected from 3 healthy, well-nourished mothers who gave birth to healthy full-term infants. All 37 samples were collected in three time periods, covering 78 to 151, 123 to 192, and 331 to 345 days postpartum. Concentrations of cooper, iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while sodium concentration was determined by flame atomic emission spectrophotometry. In all samples concentration of cooper ranged from 0, 198 to 1, 146 µg/g, iron from 0, 643 to 5, 987 µg/g, zinc from 0, 693 to 5, 187 µg/g, potassium from 203, 8 to 643, 7 µg/g, sodium from 93, 9 to 416, 2 µg/g, magnesium from 27, 8 to 45, 2 µg/g, calcium from 61, 1 to 172, 0 µg/g, and phosphorus from 65, 6 to 168, 0 µg/g. Iron and sodium content did not differ at various stages of lactation. Zinc and calcium content differed between all stages of lactation. Lactation stage did not show statistically significant impact on copper, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous content.

AAS ; AES ; maternal milk ; minerals ; trace elements

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