title: beta-Carotene in breast milk and serum is increased after a single beta-carotene dose.
abstract: Normal lactating mothers were administered a single dose of 60 or 210 mg beta-carotene and changes in serum and milk retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and carotenoids were monitored for 8 d. Average serum beta-carotene concentrations increased 4.1- and 4.0-fold after the 60- and 210-mg doses, respectively. Milk beta-carotene concentrations increased 4.1- and 3.0-fold after the 60- and 210-mg doses, respectively. Maximum serum concentrations were reached 24 h after both supplements, although concentrations of milk beta-carotene continued to rise for 2-3 d. After 8 d, both serum and milk beta-carotene continued to rise for 2-3 d. After 8 d, both serum and milk beta-carotene concentrations remained about twofold higher than baseline concentrations. Increases in serum or milk beta-carotene concentrations were not dose-dependent. Initial serum and milk concentrations of beta-carotene predicted increases after supplementation, and increases in serum beta-carotene concentrations predicted those in milk. Concentrations of milk carotenoids were less than one-tenth their respective concentrations in serum. Lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, alpha-carotene, retinol, and alpha-tocopherol concentrations in serum or milk did not change significantly after beta-carotene supplementation. Retinol esters account for most of the retinol equivalents in the milk of well-nourished mothers. Initial and maximum concentrations of beta-carotene in serum and milk were strongly correlated for individual mothers. Collectively, the data showed that a single 60-mg supplement of beta-carotene sustained elevated beta-carotene concentrations in serum and milk for > 1 wk in normal mothers but did not affect concentrations of other major carotenoids, retinol, or alpha-tocopherol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA. canfield@ccit.arizona.edu
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Canfield
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Giuliano
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Neilson
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Graver
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Blashill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids