Abstract
There are no reports of studies specifically designed to test the effect of maternal iron supplementation on human milk composition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of moderate (40 mg Fe/day as FeSO 4) iron supplementation of nursing women for 3 months after delivery (non-supplemented, n = 14: supplemented, n = 14) on levels of iron, lactoferrin, total iron-ligands, and zinc in milk. Iron supplementation did not alter significantly iron and zinc levels in milk and the low iron to lactoferrin ratio was maintained, thus preserving the important functions of lactoferrin for the infant organism. However, iron supplementation increased total iron ligands in milk as measured by the total iron-binding capacity and increased the proportion of lactoferrin in total protein secreted. Also, lactoferrin levels tended (P = 0.059) to be higher in milk of the supplemented women. Our results suggest that the increase in total iron ligands and in the proportion of lactoferrin in total protein in milk after iron supplementation may be a response of the mammary gland to a higher plasma transferrin saturation. ( J. Nutr. Biochem. 5:331–337, 1994.)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.