8/14/2019 clubdelateta REF 113 Antioxidant micronutrient profile (Vitamin E, C, A, copper, zinc, iron) of colostrum 1 0

1/2

Introduction

Human colostrum contains all of the constituentsthat are required for the optimal growth anddevelopment of a neonate. It supports the develop-ment of brain, immune, and physiological systems.Colostrum has a unique protective effect againstacute infections.14 In addition to the non-nutritiveimmune components, colostrum contains a largenumber of immunoactive nutrients including anti-oxidant micronutrients. Antioxidant vitamins andminerals play an important role in immunophysio-

logical functions acting as potential immuno-enhancers and antioxidants,5,6 deficiencies of whichdownregulate immune function, but their overload isimmunotoxic.7 In view of their important role in theimmunophysiological system, colostral concentra-tions of antioxidant vitamins E, C, and A, andminerals like copper, zinc, and iron were investigatedamong selected Bangladeshi mothers.

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted amongst 105 post-partummothers aged 1640 years. Colostrums (2 ml) werecollected manually on the second post-partum day.

Anthropometric data and socioeconomic infor-mation of each of the mothers were recorded.

Reversed phase HPLC was used for simultaneousdetermination of retinol and -tocopherol in the seraas described by Islam, et al.5 The concentration ofascorbic acid in the colostrum was determined byspectrophotometric method using phenyl hydrazineindicator.5 Colostral mineral contents were deter-mined by an atomic absorption flame emissionspectrophotometer.8 SPSS software package(version 10.0) was used to analyse the data.

Results and Discussion

The mean maternal age, monthly income, BMI, andparity were 23.07 4.40 years, 105.9 87.75 US$,22.23 3.56, and 2.1 1.3, respectively (Table 1). Thecolostral concentrations of antioxidant vitamins E,C, and A were 21.34 8.47, 148.92 43.64, and 0.79 0.42 mol/l and the microminerals Cu, Zn, and Fewere 19.17 11.73, 63.69 12.82, and 11.44 1.46mol/l, respectively (Table 2). Non-parametricanalysis (2) showed no significant relationshipbetween maternal age, income, BMI, and parity, andthe micronutrient contents of colostrum (Table 3).The vitamin E content in colostrum was found to bein agreement claimed elsewhere for colostrum.9

Concentrations of vitamins C and A in the colostrumwere equivalent to those reported for Bangladesh10

and India,11 but the vitamin A content was lowerthan that noted for developed and developingcountries.11 However, the mineral contents obtainedin this study were consistent with the reported data.12

Conclusion

Our findings confirm the optimum levels of anti-oxidant micronutrients in the colostrum of

Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, Vol. 50, No. 6 Oxford University Press 2004; all rights reserved 357

Brief Reports

Antioxidant Micronutrient Profile (Vitamin E, C, A, Copper,Zinc, Iron) of Colostrum: Association with MaternalCharacteristics

by L. Ahmed,a SK. Nazrul Islam,a M. N. I. Khan,a S. Huque, and M. Ahsanb

aInstitute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, BangladeshbDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Summary

The study was conducted to investigate the micronutrient profile of human colostrum, and to assessthe association of maternal characteristics to the micronutrients. Colostral concentrations of anti-oxidant vitamins E, C, and A were 21.34 8.47, 148.92 43.64, 0.79 0.42 mol/l, respectively. Theantioxidant minerals copper, zinc, and iron contents were 19.17 11.73, 63.69 12.82, 11.44 1.46mol/l, respectively. Maternal characteristics did not have any influence on the colostral micro-nutrients.

Acknowledgement

The authors thank the financial support by the Bangladesh Breast-

feeding Foundation.

Correspondence: SK. Nazrul Islam, Institute of Nutrition and Food

Science, Unviersity of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh. E-mail

.

8/14/2019 clubdelateta REF 113 Antioxidant micronutrient profile (Vitamin E, C, A, copper, zinc, iron) of colostrum 1 0

2/2

Bangladeshi mothers. The results further revealedthat colostral concentration of micronutrients isindependent of income, nutritional status, age, orparity of the mothers. This association may beexploited for the promotion of colostrum feeding indeveloping countries like Bangladesh, where ahigher rate of colostrum rejection is registered.

References

1. Ogra SS, Ogra PL. Immunologic aspects of human colostrumand milk. J Paediatr 1978; 92: 54649.

2. Grover M, Giouzeppos O, Schnagl RD, May JT. Effect of

human milk prostaglandins and lactoferrin on respiratory syncy-

tial virus and rotavirus. Acta Paediatr 1997; 86: 31516.

3. Lawton JWM, Shortridge KF. Protective factors in human

breast milk and colostrum. The Lancet 1977; Jan 29: 253.

4. Mathur NB, Dwarkadas AM, Sharma VK, Jain N. Anti-

infective factors in preterm human colostrum. Acta Paediatr

Scan 1990; 79: 103944.

5. Islam SN, Hossain KJ, Ahsan M. Serum vitamin E, C and A

status of the drug addicts undergoing detoxification: influence

of drug habit, sexual practice and lifestyle factors. Eur J Clin

Nutr 2001; 55: 102227.

6. Czerinichow S, Hercberg S. International studies concerning the

role of antioxidant vitamins in cardiovascular diseases: a review.

J Nutr Health Aging 2001; 5: 18895.

7. Chandra RK. Introduction and state of the art and science of

nutrition and immunology. Ann Nutr Metab 2001; 45(Suppl 1):

288.

8. Picciano MF, Guthrie HA. Copper, iron and zinc contents of

mature human milk. Am J Clin Nutr 1976; 29: 24254.

9. Jansson L, Akesson B, Holmberg L. Vitamin E and fatty acidcomposition of human milk. Am J Clin Nutr 1981; 34: 813.

10. Ahmed L, Islam SN, Nahid SN. Differentials in vitamin C

composition of human milk (colostrum, transitional and

mature) and serum. MJN 2004; in press.

11. Newman V. Vitamin A and breastfeeding: a comparison of data

from developed and developing countries. Wellstart Inter-

national, USAID, San Diego, CA, 1993; 68: 223.

12. Casey CE, Hambidge KM, Neville MC. Studies in human

lactation: zinc, copper, manganese and chromium in human milk

in the first month of lactation. Am J Clin Nutr 1985; 41: 11932000.

BRIEF REPORTS

358 Journal of Tropical Pediatrics Vol. 50, No. 6

TABLE 2Micronutrient profile of human colostrum

Micronutrient in mol/l Number (%) Mean SD

Vitamin E6.0018.80 37 (35)

18.8030.00 52 (50) 21.34 8.4730.00 and above 16 (15)

Vitamin C

70.00116.00 29 (28)116.00162.00 35 (33) 148.92 43.64162 and above 41 (39)

Vitamin A0.280.81 67 (64)0.811.34 28 (27) 0.79 0.42134 and above 10 (9)

Copper3.0015.00 50 (48)15.0027.00 34 (32) 19.17 11.7327.00 and above 21 (20)

Zinc< 62.00 44 (42)62.00-77.00 44 (42) 63.69 12.8277.0092.00 17 (16)

Iron< 10.60 45 (42)10.6012.50 30 (29) 11.44 1.4612.5114.40 30 (29)

TABLE 1Socio-demographic characteristics of the studied

mothers

Characteristic Number (%) Mean SD

Age (years)1622 47 (45)2228 42 (40) 23.07 4.40> 28 16 (15)

Monthly income (US $)90.00 66 (63)90.00120.00 31 (29) 105.90 87.75> 120 8 (8)

BMI1618 11 (11)1820 18 (17) 22.23 3.56> 20 76 (72)

Parity< 2 75 (72)23 18 (17) 2.10 1.30> 3 11 (11)

TABLE 3Correlation (2) of colostral micronutrient profile with maternal characteristics

Maternal Vitamin E Vitamin C Vitamin A Copper Zinc Iron

characteristic

Age 8.04 5.78 3.73 4.61 0.26 2.89

Income 9.01 0.91 9.12 3.02 4.85 2.21

BMI 2.56 9.35 5.37 0.27 3.42 3.78

Parity 2.72 2.73 1.96 1.95 0.66 1.08

2 9.488 at 4 d.f. (degrees of freedom) is significant.