Original Article

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2006) 60, 903–908. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602398; published online 1 March 2006

Mother's iron status, breastmilk iron and lactoferrin – are they related?

Guarantor: MMAF stands as guarantor and accountable for all parts of the completed manuscript, before and after publication.

Contributors: Shashiraj was the principal investigator and wrote the manuscript. MMAF designed the study, was the principal supervisor and contributed to the manuscript. OS analysed the breastmilk results and contributed to the manuscript. UR analyzed the hematology results and contributed to the manuscript.

 Shashiraj1, M M A Faridi1, O Singh1 and U Rusia1

1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University College of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India

Correspondence: Dr MMA Faridi, E-11, GTB Hospital Campus, UCMS and GTB Hospital, Dilshad Garden, Delhi 110095, India. E-mail: mmafaridi@yahoo.co.in

Received 14 January 2005; Revised 31 October 2005; Accepted 22 November 2005; Published online 1 March 2006.

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Abstract

Objective:

 

Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended till 6 months age. Factors regulating the breastmilk iron and lactoferrin levels are incompletely known. Considering high prevalence of nutritional anemia in lactating mothers, we studied the iron status of lactating mothers, their breastmilk iron and lactoferrin levels to determine any relationship between them.

Design:

 

Prospective study with 6 months follow-up.

Setting:

 

Tertiary care referral hospital.

Subjects:

 

Hundred nonanemic and 100 anemic mothers with their babies recruited at birth. Fifty-two nonanemic and 50 anemic mothers and their babies completed the 6-month follow-up.

Interventions:

 

Hemoglobin (Hb), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), percent transferrin saturation (%TS), serum iron (SI) and serum ferritin measured on day 1 and 6 months postpartum. Breastmilk iron and lactoferrin measured on day 1, 14 weeks and 6 months after delivery.

Results:

 

Breastmilk iron decreased progressively from day 1 to 14 weeks and at 6 months in both groups, but no significant difference was noted between nonanemic and anemic mothers (P>0.05). Significant decline in breastmilk lactoferrin concentration from day 1 to 14 weeks in nonanemic and anemic mothers (P<0.001) noted. Hemoglobin, TIBC, %TS, SI and serum ferritin of both groups had no correlation with breastmilk iron and lactoferrin concentration on day 1, 14 weeks and 6 months after delivery.

Conclusions:

 

Breastmilk iron and lactoferrin concentration had no relationship with the mother's Hb and iron status.

Sponsorship:

 

This work was carried out as part of thesis research under University of Delhi.

Keywords:

exclusive breastfeeding, breastmilk iron, lactoferrin, hemoglobin, iron status

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