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Selenium content of breast milk
Z Mandić1, M L Mandić, J Grgić
1Clinical Hospital Osijek, Children Department, Croatia.
Zeitschrift Fur Lebensmittel-Untersuchung Und -Forschung
|September 1, 1995
Summary
Winter selenium levels in human milk ranged from 5.3 to 23.8 micrograms/l. Factors like social status and smoking habits were analyzed in relation to these essential trace element levels.
Area of Science:
- Human Nutrition
- Environmental Health
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Selenium is an essential trace element crucial for human health.
- Human milk is a primary source of nutrients for infants.
- Understanding selenium levels in human milk is important for infant nutrition and health assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine selenium levels in human milk during the winter period.
- To investigate the influence of various factors on selenium concentration in human milk.
Main Methods:
- Selenium concentrations were measured using hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry.
- Nursing women were categorized based on social status, parity, postpartum duration, pregnancy weight gain, age, and smoking habits.
- Mean selenium levels were calculated for each demographic group.
Main Results:
- Human milk selenium levels in winter varied from 5.3 to 23.8 micrograms/l, with a mean of 11.0 micrograms/l.
- Mean selenium levels were presented for different subgroups of nursing women.
- The study analyzed the relationship between selenium levels and factors such as social status and smoking.
Conclusions:
- The study provides baseline data on winter selenium levels in human milk.
- Variations in selenium levels may be associated with maternal factors.
- Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the determinants of selenium content in human milk.