Xenobiotics, Nutritional and Biogenic Elements Content in Human Milk in Poland in Relation to Age of Breastfeeding Women

摘要

Xenobiotics (cadmium and lead), biogenic (zinc, copper), and nutritional (calcium and magnesium) elements levels were determined (with voltammetric and AAS methods) in mature breast milk (obtained 36 weeks after birth) from women living in Krakow, Poland. The milk was collected in the morning hours in the course of 10 days from 25 women. A total of 250 milk samples were collected. All the breastfeeding women have lived in Krakow for five years and all are mothers of their second babies. The women were divided into five age groups: 22-23, 24-25, 26-27, 34-35 and 36-37 years old. We noticed that the content of lead was the highest in the milk of women from age group 36-37 years old. The cadmium contents were the highest in the breast milk of breastfeeding women from two age groups: 34-35 and 36-37 years old. The highest levels of zinc were noticed in the milk of the youngest women. Also, we have observed systematic decrease of this element's content in relation to age, although these are not significant changes. The level of copper is higher in the breast milk of older women as compared to its level in younger women's milk. Magnesium does not show any significant changes in relation to age of breastfeeding women. The calcium level was the lowest in the youngest women's group and the highest in the milk of women from the age group 26-27 years old. The results indicate that the composition of human milk may change in relation to the age of the breastfeeding and that the milk of older women may constitute a significant source of lead and cadmium for infants.