Vitamin A status during the third trimester of pregnancy in Spanish women: influence on concentrations of vitamin A in breast milk

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition 1997-09, Vol.66 (3), p.564-568
• Main Authors: Ortega, RM, Andrés, P, Martínez, RM, López-Sobaler, AM
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anthropometry; Biological and medical sciences; Breastfeeding & lactation; Enzymes. Coenzymes. Vitamins. Pigments; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Medical research; Metabolisms and neurohumoral controls; Milk, Human - chemistry; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Spain; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vitamin A; Vitamin A - analysis; Vitamin A - blood
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/66.3.564

We examined the relation between the vitamin A status of Spanish women during pregnancy and concentrations of vitamin A in breast milk. The subjects were 57 healthy, lactating women aged 18-35 y. Vitamin A intake was determined during the third trimester of pregnancy by using a 5-d dietary record that included a Sunday and by recording the quantities provided by supplements. HPLC was used to determine vitamin A concentrations in subjects’ serum during the third trimester, in transitional breast milk (on days 13-14 of lactation), and in mature breast milk (on day 40). During the third trimester, 33.3% of subjects had vitamin A intakes from diet and supplements < 800 microg/d, the recommended value. These subjects had serum and breast milk vitamin A concentrations that were significantly lower than those of subjects who consumed greater quantities of the vitamin. Furthermore, subjects with serum vitamin A concentrations < 1.05 micromol/L during the third trimester (22.8%) had lower mean (+/- SD) concentrations of the vitamin in mature breast milk than did subjects with higher serum concentrations (1.8 +/- 1.2 micromol/L compared with 2.6 +/- 0.8 micromol/L; P < 0.05). These results show that vitamin A intake and serum vitamin A concentrations during pregnancy influence the composition of breast milk. Given that 12.3% of subjects had < 1.40 micromol vitamin A/L in mature breast milk, it seems advisable to follow and, if necessary, improve vitamin A status during pregnancy and lactation.