| Fat-soluble vitamins in the maternal diet,
influence of cod liver oil supplementation and impact
of the maternal diet on human milk composition
Author: Olafsdottir AS, Wagner KH, Thorsdottir I, Elmadfa
I
Address: Unit for Nutrition Research, Landspitali-University
Hospital, University of Iceland, IS-101 Reykjavik, Iceland.
Source: Ann Nutr Metab 2001;45(6):265-72
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate lactating mothers' intake
of fat-soluble vitamins in free-living subjects and
to what extent cod liver oil supplementation influences
the maternal intake in a population with common intake
of cod liver oil. The impact of maternal diet on the
concentration of fat-soluble vitamins in human milk
was studied.
METHODS: Dietary intake of 77 lactating women was investigated
by 24-hour diet recalls and breast-milk samples were
taken at the same occasions. Breast milk samples were
analyzed for fat-soluble vitamins.
RESULTS: The median intakes were 927 microg/day for
vitamin A, 5.5 mg/day for vitamin E and 3.3 microg/day
for vitamin D. Maternal vitamin A, E and D intakes were
higher when the diet was supplemented with cod liver
oil. Icelandic breast milk was found to have high contents
of vitamin A and E. Only vitamin D was too low in breast
milk to meet the recommended intake for infants. Retinylpalmitate
in relation to lipids correlated with maternal vitamin
A intake (r = 0.23, p < 0.05). The group with cod
liver oil supplementation had significantly lower levels
of gamma-tocopherol in breast milk (p < 0.01), whereas
the supplementation did not affect other fat-soluble
vitamins.
CONCLUSION: The recommended intake of fat-soluble vitamins
for lactating women can more easily be met with a cod
liver oil supplementation than diet alone. Only vitamin
D in human milk cannot meet the recommended intakes
for infants, with normal breastfeeding. There is a relationship
between the content of vitamins A and E in human milk
and the maternal diet.
Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food
and Drug Administration
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