Differences in plasma and nipple aspirate carotenoid by lactation status.
BACKGROUND
Dietary antioxidants, such as provitamin A carotenoid, have a protective effect against breast cancer. The transport of carotenoid from the blood into the breast microenvironment may be enhanced by lactation.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between plasma and nipple aspirate carotenoid levels by lactation and post-wean status.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 43 women, ages 18-45, who were at least 12 months postpartum. Women who had breastfed their last infant were at least 3 months post-wean. Women collected breast fluid every other day for 17 days and had a venipuncture for total nipple aspirate and plasma carotenoid, and completed a written health assessment.


RESULTS
The association between plasma and nipple aspirate carotenoid levels was significant for breastfeeding women (r =.39, p=.03), but not for non-breastfeeding women (r =.31, p =.27). However, while the association between plasma and nipple aspirate carotenoid levels was significant for women at or less than 9 months post-wean (r =.65, p = .01), the effect for women after 9 months post-wean (r = .21, p =.45) was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Lactation may be protective by enhancing the delivery of chemopreventive substances available in the blood to the cell level of the breast, even after breast involution has occurred post lactation.
Nantais-Smith
L M
LM
Department of Neonatology, Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, Michigan 48909, USA.
Covington
C Y
CY
Nordstrom-Klee
B A
BA
Grubbs
C J
CJ
Eto
I
I
Lawson
D M
DM
Pieper
B A
BA
Northouse
L L
LL
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000378:metabolism
D002338:Carotenoids