Influence of breast-feeding on the restoration of the low serum concentration of vitamin E and beta-carotene in the newborn infant.
Vitamin E and beta-carotene are two important natural antioxidants. However, the mean (+/- SD) serum concentrations of beta-carotene in the cord blood of term (17.9 +/- 4.4 micrograms/dl) and preterm (14.04 +/- 4.7 micrograms/dl) infants are one eighth the concentration in the maternal serum (131 +/- 43 micrograms/dl). Likewise the serum concentrations of vitamin E in the term (0.31 +/- 0.09 mg/dl) and preterm (0.29 +/- 0.08 mg/dl) infants are one-third the concentration in the maternal serum (0.97 +/- 0.16 mg/dl). Human breast milk, particularly colostrum, contains very high concentrations of both vitamin E (3.28 +/- 2.93 mg/dl) and beta-carotene (213 +/- 166 micrograms/dl). Thus the breast-fed, term infant attains serum levels of both vitamin E and beta-carotene comparable to those in the adult within 4 to 6 days of breast-feeding. This study shows that the seeming barrier in the fetus to access to the antioxidants vitamin E and beta-carotene, in rapidly corrected and the substances are replenished postnatally through breast-feeding. This study therefore alludes to the possible role of breast-feeding in providing for the infant's defense against oxygen toxicity.
E M
EM
Ostrea
J E
JE
Balun
R
R
Winkler
T
T
Porter
D000975:Antioxidants; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D019207:beta Carotene
D000975:Antioxidants; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids