title: Retinol and Alpha-tocopherol in the Colostrum of Lactating Tunisian Women Delivering Prematurely: Associations with Maternal Characteristics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aims to assess vitamin A and E concentrations in the premature colostrum of lactating Tunisian women and to identify maternal characteristics that may affect these concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human colostrum was obtained from 105 mothers who gave birth prematurely in the Centre for Maternity and Neonatology of Tunis (Tunisia). Retinol and alpha-tocopherol were analyzed in the colostrum and in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Retinol and alpha-tocopherol concentrations were 57.5 ± 50.1 μg/dL and 1222 ± 772 μg/dL in the colostrum, respectively, and 51.7 ± 20.0 μg/dL and 1351 ± 772 μg/dL in plasma, respectively. Concentrations of each vitamin in the colostrum were positively correlated with their respective concentrations in plasma (r = 0.415, p = 0.001 for retinol and r = 0.392, p = 0.003 for alpha-tocopherol). In multivariate analysis, colostrum vitamin A was associated with plasma vitamin A and preeclampsia, while colostrum vitamin E was associated with plasma vitamin E, gestational age, and preeclampsia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Tunisian women, colostrum vitamin A and E levels are close to the average values reported in the literature. The levels are too low to cover the needs of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, particularly in women with plasma vitamin deficiencies, preeclampsia, or very premature delivery. Given the undeniable beneficial effects of human colostrum, whenever feasible, VLBW infants should be fed colostrum. Infant vitamin A and E requirements should be met by milk fortification or supplementation.
authors: UR05/08-08, Department of Biochemistry, Rabta Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia. Electronic address: samirafares@yahoo.fr.
authors: Samira
authors: S
authors: Fares
authors: UR05/08-08, Department of Biochemistry, Rabta Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors: Mohamed Marouane
authors: MM
authors: Sethom
authors: Service of Neonatology, Center of Maternity and Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors: Samia
authors: S
authors: Kacem
authors: Service of Neonatology, Center of Maternity and Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors: Imen
authors: I
authors: Ksibi
authors: UR05/08-08, Department of Biochemistry, Rabta Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors: Moncef
authors: M
authors: Feki
authors: Service of Neonatology, Center of Maternity and Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors: Sami
authors: S
authors: Jebnoun
authors: UR05/08-08, Department of Biochemistry, Rabta Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors: Naziha
authors: N
authors: Kaabachi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007774:Lactation; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth; D014416:Tunisia; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000032:analysis*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol
keywords: colostrum; preeclampsia; preterm birth; vitamin A; vitamin E