title: [Influence of gestational age and parity on the concentration of retinol in human colostrums].
abstract: Vitamin A is particularly important during the critical periods of growth, proliferation and development of tissues such as pregnancy, neonatal period and childhood. This study aims to evaluate the influence of maternal variables such as gestational age and parity, on the levels of retinol in colostrum and verify that the concentration of vitamin A in the colostrum of those mothers provides the recommended amount of this micronutrient for newborns. We recruited 84 healthy pregnant women attended at a Brazilian public hospital. Retinol concentrations in colostrum were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. The retinol in colostrum from mothers at term (n=49) and preterm (n=35) showed values of 111.3 +/- 12.4 microg/dL and 79.2 +/- 10.6 microg/dL (p < 0.0001), respectively, and retinol concentration in colostrum from primiparous (n=40) (82.5 +/- 8.8 microg/dL) and multiparous (n=44) (116.9 +/- 10.3 microg/dL) was also statistically different (p < 0.0001). Retinol levels in colostrum at term and those whose mothers had one or more than one child in this study meet the needs of the child (400 microg retinol/day). However, levels of retinol in colostrum of preterm infants are not consistent with the recommendations of the DRI for premature infants, which is 420 microg retinol/day. These results demonstrate the need to supplement with vitamin A preterm mothers to ensure an adequate supply of this vitamin to the newborn.
authors: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal/RN, Brasil.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Dimenstein
authors: Juliana Cristina de Oliveira
authors: JC
authors: Dantas
authors: Ana Caroline Perez
authors: AC
authors: Medeiros
authors: Lahyana Rafaella de Freitas
authors: LR
authors: Cunha