Effects of synbiotic supplementation on total antioxidant capacity of human breastmilk

The aims of this study were to determine the effects of synbiotic (probiotic plus prebiotic) supplementation on total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of human breastmilk.

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 80 lactating mothers were randomly divided into two groups to receive a daily supplement of synbiotic (n=40) or a placebo (n=40) for 30 days. Information on dietary intake was collected from lactating women using the 24-hour recall method for 3 days before and after supplementation. The TAC was measured by using a Randox (Crumlin, County Antrim, United Kingdom) assay, and the MDA level of breastmilk as thiobarbitaric acid complexes was measured by the fluorometry method. Data analysis was carried out using Nutritionist IV (Axxya Systems, Stafford, TX) and SPSS (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL).

The TAC of breastmilk increased significantly from 0.312±0.16 to 0.481±0.2 mmol/L in the supplemented group (p<0.039), whereas it decreased from 0.317±0.18 to 0.255±0.13 mmol/L in the placebo group (p>0.13). Although the MDA level decreased slightly from 1.62±0.69 to 1.6±0.95 μmol/L in the supplemented group, it increased significantly in the placebo group from 1.71±0.86 to 2.16±0.277 μmol/L after the experimental period (p<0.001). Also, maternal vitamin A, E, and C, zinc, and selenium intake did not change significantly in both groups during the study period. Moreover, no significant correlation was found between weight for age Z-score of infants and TAC and MDA levels in breastmilk.

Based on these results, synbiotic supplementation may have positive effects on the TAC and MDA levels in breastmilk; however, these findings require confirmation from future trials.