Maternal smoking does not influence vitamin A and E concentrations in mature breastmilk.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of maternal smoking on the total antioxidant status (TAS) and the concentrations of vitamins A and E in human breastmilk.


METHODS
The study group (n=20) comprised postpartum women who declared smoking more than five cigarettes per day (confirmed by urinalysis of the cotinine concentration). The control group included 25 nonsmoking postpartum women. Breastmilk samples were collected between day 30 and day 32 after delivery. TAS was determined by Rice-Evans and Miller method, whereas the amount of vitamins A and E was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography.


RESULTS
No significant differences were observed between breastmilk samples from smoking and nonsmoking mothers in terms of TAS and vitamin A and E concentrations. Additionally, no significant correlations were found between urinary cotinine and TAS (R=0.35, p=0.144) or vitamin A (R=0.14, p=0.571) and vitamin E (R=0.31, p=0.228) concentrations in breastmilk samples from smoking mothers.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal smoking is not reflected by decreased TAS and vitamin A and E concentrations in mature milk.
Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland. aga1@gumed.edu.pl
Agnieszka
A
Szlagatys-Sidorkiewicz
Maciej
M
Zagierski
Grażyna
G
Luczak
Katarzyna
K
Macur
Tomasz
T
Bączek
Barbara
B
Kamińska
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003367:Cotinine / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011044:Poland; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000378:metabolism*
D000975:Antioxidants; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D003367:Cotinine