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Zinc Update: Correlation of breast milk zinc concentrations and maternal zinc status in breastfed infants

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eMediNexus    16 November 2020

Zinc is an important nutrient for the normal growth, development and immune function of infants. Infants have hepatic stores of zinc from intrauterine life that provides zinc for utilization during their 4-6 months of life. After six months, they get zinc from their daily dietary intake.

The World Health Organization has recommended exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life and continued breastfeeding with suitable complementary food till the age of 2 years or later. Breast milk provides adequate nutrients for infants during the first 6 months of life. Breast milk zinc concentration reaches the highest level during the early period of lactation and abruptly declines in the first 3 months. Because of the limited zinc storage and a physiologic decrease in breast milk zinc concentration, the first 4-6 months of life is the transition period in infancy for a high risk of zinc deficiency.

The study was conducted to evaluate the incidence of zinc deficiency in infants aged 4-6 months along with the associated factors. Infants aged 4-6 months who were healthy along with their mothers were enrolled. They were divided by feeding types as breastfed (BF), formula-fed (FF), and mixed groups (MF). Demographic data, given diets, perinatal data and anthropometric measurement were included. Blood samples were collected from infants and lactating mothers and the breast milk samples were also collected to evaluate plasma and breast milk zinc concentrations.

Among the 158 infants, the incidence of zinc deficiency was 7.6%, and as per the feeding groups 14.9%, 5.3%, and 2.9% in the BF, the FF, and the MF groups, respectively. Zinc deficiency in the breastfed infants had significantly lower maternal zinc concentrations as compared with those without zinc deficiency. A higher proportion of maternal zinc deficiency in zinc-deficient infants than those without zinc deficiency was observed (66.7% vs 16.2%). A positive correlation between zinc concentrations in breast milk and plasma zinc concentrations of infants and of lactating mothers was also reported. The results of the study suggested that breastfed infants who are aged 4-6 months might have a higher risk of zinc deficiency. The risk is associated with maternal zinc status and breast milk zinc concentrations.

Source: Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2015;24(2):273-80. doi: 10.6133/apjcn.2015.24.2.06. PMID: 26078244.

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