Relationship between breast milk content and intake of zinc, copper and iron of Nigerian women

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Zinc, copper and iron intakes of 226 lactating Nigerian women eating self‐selected diets was assessed via a cumulative 3‐day dietary recall method — the trace element composition of subsamples of the diets having been analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Breast milk collected from the subjects was also analysed for zinc, copper and iron content. Mean (+S.E.) daily zinc, copper and iron intakes during the first weeks of lactation were 8.50 ± O.11 mg, 1.70 ± 0.03 mg and 29.40 + 0.44 mg, respectively. Except for iron, the values were much lower than RDA. Mean daily intake tended to decrease with increase in lactation period. Colostrum zinc, copper and iron concentrations (μg/dl) of 583.70 ± 13.27, 54.50 + 2.95 and 52.40 ± 2.60 μg, respectively, were significantly higher than the values obtained for the respective elements in mature milk. Variations in dietary zinc and iron intake levels were observed to influence breast milk zinc and iron concentrations. Neither maternal age nor parity had any influence on milk trace elements levels.