Changes in the Concentrations of Trace Elements in Human Milk during Lactation

Abstract

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to determine 18 trace elements (Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cs, Cu, La, Li, Mn, Mo, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sn, Sr, Tl, and Zn) in 55 human milk samples from 46 healthy mothers collected during lactation periods extending to 293 days after birth. Se was quantified by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS). To test the accuracy and the precision of the analytical procedure, milk powder reference materials (BCR 063 and BCR 150) were analyzed. The results obtained by ICP-MS and HG-AAS showed good agreement with the certified values. Whenever available, trace element concentrations determined in the human milk samples were compared to reliable literature data. The concentrations of Be (< 0.05 to 0.9 microgram/kg), Bi (< 0.09 to 2.0 micrograms/kg), Cs (1.7 to 7.7 micrograms/kg), La (< 0.05 to 3.7 micrograms/kg), Rb (440 to 1,620 micrograms/kg), and Tl (< 0.08 to 0.5 microgram/kg) are the first to be reported for human milk. The concentrations of the essential trace elements Cu (p < 0.005), Mn (p < 0.05), Mo (p < 0.0005), Se (p < 0.001), and Zn (p < 0.0005) significantly decreased and the concentrations of cobalt significantly increased (p < 0.005) in human milk during the course of lactation. All concentrations for the essential trace element tin in the human milk samples were below the method detection limit of 0.3 microgram/kg. Among the not essential and toxic elements-with the exception of Ba, Pb, and Tl-the trend toward lower concentrations with continuing lactation is much less pronounced than for the essential trace elements. With the exception of Se, the daily intakes of essential trace elements of fully breast-fed infants are considerably lower than dietary recommendations.