title: Coenzyme Q10 in maternal plasma and milk throughout early lactation.
abstract: In contrast to other lipophilic antioxidants Coenzyme Q10 originates from food intake as well as from endogenous synthesis. The CoQ10 concentration and lipid content of maternal milk and maternal plasma was investigated during early lactation. Breast milk was obtained from 23 women: A: colostrums (24-48 hours postpartum), B: transitional milk (day 7 pp), C: mature milk (day 14 pp). At the same time capillary blood specimens were collected. Milk and plasma were stored at -84 degrees C until CoQ10 was analysed after hexane extraction by HPLC. The lipid content was determined by PAP-analysis of cholesterol. The plasma content of CoQ10 was the highest soon after delivery (A: 1.29, B:1.20, C:1.07 pmol/microl; Wilcoxon p < 0.05 A vs. C and B vs. C). This tendency was still evident after lipid-adjustment (A:209, B:180, C:175 micromol CoQ10/mol cholesterol; Wilcoxon p < 0.01 A vs. B and C). The level of CoQ10 in milk showed a gradual decline during early lactation (A:0.80, B:0.57, C:0.44 pmol/microl; Wilcoxon p < 0.02 A vs. B and C). After lipid-adjustment this tendency became even more evident (A: 137, B:86, C:67 micromol CoQ10/mol cholesterol; Wilcoxon p < 0.002 A vs. B and C, p < 0.05 B vs. C). The content of CoQ10 in plasma and milk showed a correlation with early milk (Spearman p < 0.005) but not with mature milk. Although lipid content is low the colostrums is a rich source for the lipophilic antioxidant CoQ10.
authors.affiliation: Vestische Kinderklinik Datteln, University Witten-Herdecke, Datteln, Germany. pf-niklowitz@web.de
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Niklowitz
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Menke
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giffei
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Andler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D003067:Coenzymes; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000097:blood*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D003067:Coenzymes; D014451:Ubiquinone; D002784:Cholesterol; C024989:coenzyme Q10