Zinc and copper concentrations in breast milk and maternal serum in the postpartum period.

Abstract

This study reports the contents of Zn and Cu in the breast milk and serum of postpartum mothers, 17 primiparas and 20 multiparas, at one week and at one month after delivery. Results were as follows. 1. The mean content of Zn in the breast milk was 5.44 micrograms/ml at 1 week after delivery, and it decreased significantly (p less than 0.01) to 2.73 micrograms/ml at 1 month after delivery. 2. The mean content of Zn in serum was 0.66 microgram/ml at 1 week, and it increased significantly (p less than 0.01) to 0.84 microgram/ml, close to the normal level, at 1 month. 3. The milk Zn level at 1 week after delivery was about 8 times as high as the Zn in serum. There was a significant (p less than 0.05) negative correlation in Zn contents between milk and serum at 1 week after delivery, and there was no significant correlation in Zn contents between milk and serum at 1 month after delivery. 4. The mean content of Cu in breast milk was 0.55 microgram/ml at 1 week after delivery, and it decreased to 0.44 microgram/ml at 1 month after delivery. 5. The mean content of Cu in serum was 2.14 micrograms/ml at 1 week after delivery, and it decreased significantly (p less than 0.01) to 1.35 micrograms/ml, close to the normal level, at 1 month after delivery. 6. Concerning the Cu contents of milk and serum, there was not a significant correlation at 1 week after delivery, but a significant (p less than 0.05) positive correlation was found at 1 month after delivery.