Effect of β-carotene supplementation in Honduran lactating mothers on serum β-carotene and retinol levels of their breast-fed infants

摘要

The objective of this study is to assess the effects of pure β-carotene supplementation in the lactating mothers on serum β-carotene and retinol levels of their breast-fed infants. Data for this study is taken from a nutritional intervention trial conducted in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Forty five healthy, lactating mothers and their infants participated. During the intervention trial, all of the mothers took 30 mg of pure β-carotene capsules with their morning meal for three alternate days (a total of 90 mg) in the week-long trial. The mothers provided 10 milliliter of breast milk per sampling and 5 milliliter of blood per draw. Two milliliter of blood was collected from each infants during the trial. β-Carotene and retinol concentrations were quantitated in the breast milk and in the serum samples using high-performance-liquid-chromatography (HPLC). Results of the t-test confirmed that the supplementation of β-carotene to the lactating mothers has a significant effect on their breast-fed infants' serum retinol concentrations. This is reflected in the increased levels (by a ∼10 fold) of infants' serum retinol concentrations. It is also observed that there is a statistically significant increase of the β-carotene levels in the maternal breast milk and serum samples due to this β-carotene supplementation. A similar increase of retinol levels in the maternal blood samples is observed. In addition, a modest correlation between the retinol concentrations of post-supplemented maternal breast milk and the post-supplemented serum of infants, equal to or less than four months of age, is also observed. This dose-response relationship suggests that a regular supplementation of β-carotene to the lactating mothers might help their breast-fed children in harnessing the long term beneficial effects of vitamin A. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)