375 LOW MATERNAL DIETARY ZINC INTAKE AND BREAST MILK ZINC CONCENTRATIONS IN SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA. (1st January 2006)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cooper, J.; Krebs, N. F.; Westcott, J.; Abebe, Y.; Stoecker, B.; Gibson, R.; Hambidge, K. M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of investigative medicine. Volume 54:Number 1(2006)
• Page Start: S144
• Page End: S144
• Publication Date: 2006-01-01
• Subjects: Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; Medicine; Research -- United States; Clinical medicine; Medicine -- Research; Periodicals; 616.075
• DOI: 10.2310/6650.2005.X0004.374
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1081-5589

Abstract

Abstract : Background: The effect of maternal zinc (Zn) deficiency on milk Zn concentrations, especially in late lactation, is uncertain, with conflicting data from different populations. Objective: The purpose of this research was to examine breast milk Zn concentrations in 20 rural southern Ethiopian lactating women of the Siddama linguistic population, who have been found to be Zn deficient during pregnancy. Methods: The 20 subjects were studied while on their habitual diets, which are based on maize and fermented enset with minimal flesh foods. Breast milk samples were hand expressed into Zn-free collection vials, ensuring freedom from environmental Zn contamination. Milk intake was determined from a 24-hr test-weighing. Milk Zn concentrations were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results: On average the women were 7.5 ± 0.5 months postpartum. Mean breast milk Zn concentration during the test weighing period was 1.05 ± 0.47 μg Zn/g. Mean infant milk intake was 524 ± 147 g/d. Based on these findings, the estimated mean infant Zn intake from human milk was 0.57 ± 0.29 mg/d. Conclusion: Based on the habitual diet, the maternal dietary Zn intake for this population is likely to be much lower than stage-of-lactation matched data from the United States. Despite this, the mean breast milk Zn concentrations of the two groups are similar, as are the infant Zn intakes. Thus, even in this Zn-deficient population, breast milk Zn concentrations are apparently relatively independent of maternal dietary Zn intake.