title: Concentrations of biotin metabolites in human milk.
abstract: Because estimates of the biotin requirement for infants currently are based on the biotin concentration in human milk, we sought to determine whether inactive biotin metabolites are present. Samples were collected for 7 weeks post partum from 15 healthy women. Biotin and the inactive metabolites bisnorbiotin and biotin sulfoxide were measured by means of a high-performance liquid chromatography avidin-binding assay. At 8 days post partum the proportion of biotin was 44%, bisnorbiotin 48%, and biotin sulfoxide 8%. Although biotin content increased post partum (p < 0.003), the metabolites remained an important portion of the total providing evidence that accurate measurement of biotin in human milk requires an assay that is specific for biotin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, Little Rock 72202-3591, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Mock
authors.forename: N I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Mock
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Stratton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001710:Biotin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D049590:Postpartum Period; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C002143:bisnorbiotin; D001710:Biotin; C017072:D-biotin-d-sulfoxide