Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T08:52:17.833Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Breast milk zinc and copper concentrations in Bangladesh

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Dkaren SIMMER ,
Shameen Ahmed ,
Linda Carlsson  and
R. P. H. Thompson
Dkaren SIMMER
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia
Shameen Ahmed
Affiliation:
International Centre for Control of Diarrhoeal Diseases, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Linda Carlsson
Affiliation:
Gastrointestinal Laboratory, St Thomas's Hospital, London SEI 7EH
R. P. H. Thompson
Affiliation:
Gastrointestinal Laboratory, St Thomas's Hospital, London SEI 7EH
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Breast-fed infants in Bangladeshi villages were weighed at 1, 2, 6, 9 and 12 months. The concentrations of zinc and copper in the breast milk were measured and the daily intake of these elements calculated. Breast milk Zn concentration decreased over the year but was comparable with that found in developed countries. The calculated daily intake decreased from 17·7 to 8·0 μmol (10–30% of recommended dietary allowances (RDA); National Academy of Sciences, 1980). Breast milk Cu concentration also fell over the year and was lower than that reported from developed countries. Calculated daily Cu intake was 1·95–2·63 μmol (RDA 7·81–15·63 μmol). Deficiencies of trace elements may therefore be a problem in poorly nourished communities where breast feeding is continued for several years with only small amounts of additional food. Breast milk may not be adequate as the only source of infant nutrition after the first few months of life in Bangladesh.

Keywords

Breast milkCopperZinc
Type
Mineral Nutrition
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 63 , Issue 1 , January 1990 , pp. 91 - 96
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1990

References

REFERENCES

Al-Rashid, A.A. & Spangler, J. (1971). Neonatal copper deficiency. New England Journal of Medicine 285, 841–843.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Belavady, B. (1978). Lipid and trace element composition of human milk. Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica 67, 566–571.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brown, K.H., Back, R.E., Becker, S., Nahar, S. & Sawyer, J. (1982). Consumption of foods and nutrients by weanlings in rural Bangladesh. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 36, 878–889.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brown, K.H., Robertson, A.D. & Akhtar, N.A. (1986). Lactational capacity of marginally nourished mothers: infants' milk nutrient consumption and patterns of growth. Pediatrics 78, 920–927.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Casey, C.E., Walravens, P.A. & Hambidge, K.M. (1981). Availability of zinc: loading tests with human milk, cows' milk and infant formula. Pediatrics 68, 394–396.Google Scholar
Golden, B.E. & Golden, M.H.N. (1981). Trace elements-potential importance in human nutrition with particular reference to zinc and vanadium. British Medical Bulletin 37, 31–36.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jelliffe, D.B. & Jelliffe, E.F.P. (1978). The volume and composition of human milk in poorly nourished communities. A review. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 31, 492–515.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Karra, M.V., Volipi, S.A., Kirksey, A. & Roepke, J.L.B. (1986). Changes in specific nutrients in breastmilk during extended lactation. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 43, 495–503.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirsten, G.F., Heese, H.D., Watermeyer, S., Dempster, W.S., Pocock, F. & Varkevisser, H. (1985). Zinc and copper levels in breastmilk from Cape Town mothers. South African Medical Journal 68, 402–405.Google ScholarPubMed
Krebs, N.F., Hambidge, K.M., Jacobs, M.A. & Rasbach, J.O. (1985). The effects of a dietary zinc supplement during lactation on maternal zinc status and milk zinc concentrations. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 41, 571–577.Google Scholar
Krebs, N.F. & Hambidge, K.M. (1986). Zinc requirements and zinc intakes of breastfed infants. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 43, 288–292.Google Scholar
Levy, Y., Zeharia, A., Grunebaum, M., Nitzan, M. & Steinherz, R. (1985). Copper deficiency in infants fed cows milk. Journal of Pediatrics 106, 789–788.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Matsuda, I., Higashi, A., Ikeda, T., Uehara, I. & Kuroki, Y. (1984). Effects of zinc and copper content of formulas on growth and on the concentrations of zinc and copper in serum and hair. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 3, 421–425.Google Scholar
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (1983). Metropolitan height and weight tables. Statistical Bulletin 64, 2–9.Google Scholar
National Academy of Sciences (1980). Food and Nutrition Board Recommended Dietary Allowances, 9th ed. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences.Google Scholar
Salmenpera, L., Perheentupa, J., Pakarinen, P. & Siimes, M. (1986). Copper nutrition in infants during prolonged exclusive breastfeeding: low intake but rising concentrations of copper and ceruloplasmin. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 43, 251–257.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shaw, J.C.L. (1980a). Trace elements in the fetus and young infant. American Journal of Diseases in Childhood 133, 1260–1268.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shaw, J.C.L. (1980b). Trace elements in the fetus and young infant. American Journal of Diseases in Childhood 134, 74–81.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Simmer, K., Khanum, S., Carlsson, L. & Thompson, R.P.H. (1988). Nutritional rehabilitation in Bangladesh – the importance of zinc. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 47, 1036–1040.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sutton, A.M., Harvie, A., Cockburn, F., Farquarson, J. & Logan, R.W. (1985). Copper deficiency in the preterm infant of very low birthweight. Archives of Diseases in Childhood 60, 644–651.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tanner, J.W. & Whitehouse, R.A. (1976). Clinical longitudinal standards for height, weight, height velocity and weight velocity and the stages of puberty. Archives of Diseases in Childhood 51, 170.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vuori, E. & Kuitunen, P. (1979). The concentration of copper and zinc in human milk. A longitudinal study. Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica 68, 33–37.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vuori, E., Makinen, S.M., Kara, R. & Kuitunen, P. (1980). The effects of the dietary intakes of copper, iron, manganese and zinc on the trace element content of human milk. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 33, 227–231.Google Scholar