title: Influence of lactation history on breast nipple aspirate fluid yields and fluid composition.
abstract: Analysis of nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) can be useful for understanding the impact that various lifestyle factors have on the biology of the breast. In this study, breast NAF was obtained at baseline from premenopausal women who volunteered for a dietary intervention trial. The influence of lactation history on both fluid yields and fluid composition was explored. We examined the levels of fat-soluble micronutrients (tocopherols, carotenoids, retinol), one lipid oxidation product (8-isoprostane), cholesterol, and protein in NAF. Roughly half of the women in the trial had never lactated, but this did not affect fluid yields appreciably. Carotenoid and tocopherol levels were significantly higher in NAF from women who lactated 6 months or more versus women who had lactated for shorter periods of time or never, but 8-isoprostane, protein, and cholesterol levels were not affected appreciably by lifetime lactation history. Longer times after weaning were associated with higher cholesterol levels, and there also was a suggestion the fat-soluble micronutrients declined with time after weaning. This is of interest since high cholesterol levels in breast fluid have been associated with an increased breast cancer risk, while carotenoids and tocopherols are thought to be protective. The results of this study provide further evidence of the potential benefits of prolonged lactation via its influence on NAF composition.
authors.affiliation: Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48109-0930, USA. zoralong@umich.edu
authors.forename: Zora
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Djuric
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Visscher
authors.forename: Lance K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Heilbrun
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atkins
authors.forename: Chandice Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Covington
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D045604:Extracellular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009558:Nipples / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000378:metabolism; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; C075750:8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha; D002338:Carotenoids; D002784:Cholesterol; D015237:Dinoprost; D024505:Tocopherols