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Presence and concentration of 17 hormones in human placenta processed for encapsulation and consumption

Sharon M Young1, Laura K Gryder2, David Zava3

  • 1Metabolism, Anthropometry and Nutrition Laboratory, Department of Anthropology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Pkwy, Box 455003, Las Vegas, NV, 89154-5003, USA.

Placenta
|June 22, 2016
PubMed

Human maternal placentophagy is a rare but growing practice in several industrialized countries among postpartum mothers seeking a variety of purported health benefits attributed to the practice. These postpartum mothers typically consume their placenta as a processed, encapsulated supplement. To determine whether free (unconjugated) steroid hormones and melatonin in placenta can survive the encapsulation process (namely steaming and dehydration), we analyzed 28 placenta samples processed for encapsulation using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to evaluate the concentration of 17 hormones. The results revealed detectable concentrations for 16 of the hormones analyzed, some in concentrations that could conceivably yield physiological effects.

Keywords:
Encapsulated placentaPlacentophagiaPlacentophagyPostpartum depressionPostpartum supplementSteroid hormones

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