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Effects of exclusive formula or breast milk feeding on oxidative stress in healthy preterm infants
O Korchazhkina1, E Jones, M Czauderna
1Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, University of Keele, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
Insights
Breast milk and formula provide sufficient antioxidant protection for premature infants, indicated by low malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Both milk types contain adequate vitamin E, preventing significant lipid peroxidation in healthy preterm babies.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Nutrition
- Oxidative Stress Research
- Infant Health
Background:
- Breast milk is traditionally considered to possess superior antioxidant properties compared to infant formula.
- Oxidative stress is implicated in various diseases of prematurity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the antioxidant properties of breast milk and formula in healthy premature infants.
- To assess vitamin E levels in milk and malondialdehyde (MDA) excretion in urine.
Main Methods:
- Vitamin E levels were quantified in breast milk from 20 mothers of premature infants.
- Urinary MDA was measured in 10 breast milk-fed and 10 formula-fed preterm infants.
- Malondialdehyde was analyzed using HPLC with UV detection after derivatization.
Main Results:
- Urinary MDA concentrations were low and not significantly different between breast milk-fed (0.074+/-0.033 microM/mM Cr) and formula-fed (0.078+/-0.026 microM/mM Cr) infants.
- Both breast milk and formula contained adequate vitamin E levels (0.3-3.0 mg/100 ml).
Conclusions:
- Both breast milk and infant formula demonstrate sufficient antioxidant capacity.
- Neither milk type led to significant lipid peroxidation in healthy premature infants.
Background:
Compared to formula, breast milk is considered to have superior antioxidant properties and consequently may reduce the occurrence of a number of diseases of prematurity associated with oxidative stress.
Aims:
To test whether the antioxidant properties of breast milk in healthy premature infants are different to those of formula milk by comparing vitamin E levels in milk and determining the excretion of malondialdehyde (MDA) in urine.
Methods:
Vitamin E was measured in the breast milk of 20 mothers who had given birth prematurely. Urinary MDA was measured in 10 exclusively breast milk fed and 10 exclusively formula fed healthy preterm infants receiving no vitamin supplements. MDA was measured after derivatisation with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and consecutive HPLC with UV detection.
Results:
Urinary MDA concentrations were consistently very low (0.074+/-0.033 microM/mM Cr and 0.078+/-0.026 microM/mM Cr in breast and formula fed infants respectively) and not significantly different between healthy breast milk and formula fed infants. Both breast and formula milk contained satisfactory levels (0.3-3.0 mg/100 ml) of vitamin E.
Conclusion:
Antioxidant properties of both breast milk and formulae are sufficient to prevent significant lipid peroxidation in healthy premature infants.
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