Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Maternal smoking decreases antioxidative status of human breast milk

Journal of Perinatology volume 32, pages 593–597 (2012)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate the influence of maternal smoking on antioxidative capacity and intensity of oxidative damage in breast milk.

Study Design:

The study group (n=30) was comprised of postpartum women who declared smoking more than five cigarettes per day during pregnancy and lactation (confirmed by the urinalysis of cotinine concentration), and their newborns. Control group included 29 non-smoking postpartum women and their newborns. Colostrum samples were collected on the 3rd day after delivery and breast milk samples between the 30th and the 32nd day after delivery. Morning maternal and neonatal urine samples were obtained on the day of the mature milk sampling. Isoprostane concentrations in colostrum/mature milk and urine were determined immunoenzymatically. Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) of colostrum/breast milk was determined by Rice–Evans and Miller method.

Result:

Colostrum TAS in smokers was significantly lower than in non-smokers (P=0.006). In both groups, the TAS of mature milk was higher compared with colostrum, but significant differences were observed amongst smokers only (P=0.001). In smokers the isoprostane concentration of mature milk was significantly higher than the colostrum concentration (P=0.001). Significant inverse correlation between maternal urinary isoprostane concentration and the TAS of mature breast milk was observed in smokers (R=−0.525, P=0.023), but not in non-smokers (R=0.161, P=0.422).

Conclusion:

This study revealed that maternal smoking triggers harmful effects on an infant by impairing pro-oxidant–antioxidant balance of breast milk.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Thibeault DW . The precarious antioxidant defenses of the preterm infant. Am J Perinatol 2000; 17: 167–181.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Quiles JL, Ochoa JJ, Ramirez-Tortosa MC, Linde J, Bompadre S, Battino M et al. Coenzyme Q concentration and total antioxidant capacity of human milk at different stages of lactation in mothers of preterm and full-term infants. Free Radic Res 2006; 40: 199–206.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Shoji H, Oguchi S, Shinohara K, Shimizu T, Yamashiro Y . Effects of iron-unsaturated human lactoferrin on hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage in intestinal epithelial cells. Pediatr Res 2007; 61: 89–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Shoji H, Oguchi S, Fujinga S, Shinohara K, Kaneko K, Shimizu T et al. Effects of human milk and spermine on hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage in IEC-6 cells. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2005; 41: 460–465.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Shoji H, Shimizu T, Shinohara K, Oguchi S, Shiga S, Yamashiro Y . Suppressive effects of breast milk on oxidative DNA damage in very low birthweight infants. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2004; 89: F136–F138.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. L′Abbe MR, Friel JK . Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase content of human milk from mothers of premature and full-term infants during the first 3 months of lactation. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2000; 31: 270–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Ermis B, Yildirim A, Örs R, Tastekin A, Ozkan B, Akcay F . Influence of smoking on serum and milk malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and antioxidant potential levels in mothers at the postpartum seventh day. Biol Trace Elem Res 2005; 105: 27–36.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Aycicek A, Erel O, Kocyigit O, Selek S, Demirkol MR . Breast milk provides better antioxidant power than does formula. Nutrition 2006; 22: 616–619.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Friel JK, Martin SM, Langdon M, Herzberg GR, Buettner GR . Milk from mothers of both premature and full-term infants provides better antioxidant protection than does infant formula. Pediatr Res 2002; 51: 612–618.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Faure H, Preziosi P, Roussel AM, Bertrais S, Galan P, Hercberg S et al. Factors influencing blood concentration of retinol, alpha-tocopherol, vitamin C, and beta-carotene in the French participants of the SU.VI.MAX trial. Eur J Clin Nutr 2006; 60: 706–717.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Reilly M, Delanty N, Lawson JA, Fitzgerald GA . Modulation of oxidant stress in vivo in chronic cigarette smokers. Circulation 1996; 94: 19–25.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Montuschi P, Barnes P, Roberts LJ . Insights into oxidative stress: the isoprostanes. Curr Med Chem 2007; 14: 703–717.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Roberts LJ, Morrow JD . Measurement of F(2)-isoprstanes as an index of oxidative stress in vivo. Free Rad Biol Med 2000; 28: 505–513.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Rice-Evans C, Miller NJ . Total antioxidant status in plasma and body fluids. Methods Enzymol 1994; 234: 279–293.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Jaffé MZ . About the precipitation caused by pikrinic acid in normal urine and about a new reaction of creatinine. Physiol Chem 1886; 10: 391–400.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Riboli E, Haley NJ, Tredaniel J, Saracci R, Preston MS, Trichopoulos D . Misclassification of smoking status among women in relation to exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Eur Respir J 1995; 8: 285–290.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Szlagatys-Sidorkiewicz A, Zagierski M, Renke J, Korzon M . Total antioxidative status in colostrum. The influence of maternal smoking. Med Wieku Rozwoj 2005; 9: 621–628.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Ortega RM, López-Sobaler AM, Martinez RM, Andrés P, Quintas ME . Influence of smoking on vitamin E status during the third trimester of pregnancy and on breast-milk tocopherol concentrations in Spanish women. Am J Clin Nutr 1998; 68: 662–667.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ortega RM, López-Sobaler AM, Quintas ME, Martinez RM, Andrés P . The influence of smoking on vitamin C status during the third trimester of pregnancy and on vitamin C levels in maternal milk. J Am Coll Nutr 1998; 17: 379–384.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Chechlowska M, Ambroszkiewicz J, Gajewska J, Laskowska-Klita T, Leibschang J . The effect of tobacco smoking during pregnancy on plasma oxidant and antioxidant status in mothers and newborn. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2011; 155: 132–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Argüelles S, Machado MJ, Ayala A, Machado A, Hervias B . Correlation between circulating biomarkers of oxidative stress of maternal and umbilical cord blood at birth. Free Radic Res 2006; 40: 565–570.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Aycicek A, Erel O, Kocyigit A . Decreased total antioxidant capacity and increased oxidative stress in passive smoker infants and their mothers. Pediatr Int 2005; 47: 635–639.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Bolisetty S, Naidoo D, Lui K, Koh TH, Watson D, Montgomery R et al. Postnatal changes in maternal and neonatal plasma antioxidant vitamins and the influence of smoking. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2002; 86: F36–F40.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. de Barros Silva SS, Rondó PH, Erzinger GS . Beta-carotene concentrations in maternal and cord blood of smokers and non-smokers. Early Hum Dev 2005; 81: 313–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Moji H, Murata T, Morinobu T, Manago M, Tamai H, Okamoto R et al. Plasma levels of retinol, retinol-binding protein, all-trans beta-carotene and cryptoxanthin in low birth weight infants. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 1995; 41: 595–606.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Friel JK, Friesen RW, Harding SV, Roberts LJ . Evidence of oxidative stress in full-term healthy infants. Pediatr Res 2004; 56: 878–882.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Friel JK, Diehl-Jones B, Cockell KA, Chiu A, Rabanni R, Davies SS et al. Evidence of oxidative stress in relation to feeding type during early life in premature infants. Pediatr Res 2011; 69: 160–164.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Kukla L, Hrubá D, Tyrlík M . Influence of prenatal and postnatal exposure to passive smoking on infants′ health during the first six months of their life. Centr Eur J Public Health 2004; 12: 157–160.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland

    M Zagierski, A Szlagatys-Sidorkiewicz, A Jankowska & B Kaminska

  2. Institute of Mathematics, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland

    G Krzykowski

  3. Department of Obstetrics, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland

    M Korzon

Authors
  1. M Zagierski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A Szlagatys-Sidorkiewicz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A Jankowska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G Krzykowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M Korzon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. B Kaminska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A Szlagatys-Sidorkiewicz.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Author contribution

Each of the six co-authors has made substantive intellectual contribution to the study (conception and design, acquisition of data or analysis and interpretation of data, drafting of the manuscript or revising it critically for important intellectual content) and takes public responsibility for appropriate portions of the content of the manuscript.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zagierski, M., Szlagatys-Sidorkiewicz, A., Jankowska, A. et al. Maternal smoking decreases antioxidative status of human breast milk. J Perinatol 32, 593–597 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2011.156

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2011.156

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links