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[Foremilk and hindmilk retinol levels]
Karla Danielly da Silva Ribeiro1, Roberto Dimenstein
1Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Bioquímica, Base Bioquímica da Nutrição, Natal (RN), Brasil.
Summary
Breast milk hindmilk contains significantly higher vitamin A (retinol) levels than foremilk. Educating mothers on full breast emptying ensures optimal infant nutrition.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Human Lactation Studies
Context:
- Breast milk composition varies during a feeding session.
- Vitamin A is crucial for infant development and immunity.
Purpose:
- To quantify retinol levels in breast milk at the start versus the end of a feeding.
- To assess the nutritional implications of milk fractionation during breastfeeding.
Summary:
- Retinol levels were measured in milk samples from 30 Brazilian mothers using high-performance liquid chromatography.
- Mean retinol concentration was significantly higher at the end (111.6 microg/100 mL) compared to the beginning (69.3 microg/100 mL) of feeding (P=0.012).
Impact:
- Findings highlight the importance of hindmilk for vitamin A intake.
- Recommends advising mothers against limiting feeding duration to ensure complete milk emptying.
- Suggests standardizing milk collection times for consistent research findings.