Short-term β-carotene supplementation of lactating mothers consuming diets low in vitamin A

We have previously shown that β-carotene supplementation of the diets of healthy U.S. mothers increases serum and milk β-carotene concentrations. Building on these results, we investigated the possibility that β-carotene supplementation could enhance the vitamin A status of mothers and their nursing...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of nutritional biochemistry 1999-09, Vol.10 (9), p.532-538
Main Authors: Canfield, Louise M, Taren, Douglas L, Kaminsky, Rina G, Mahal, Zeenat
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
breast milk
carotenoids
Feeding. Feeding behavior
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
infant nutrition
retinol
supplementation
Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
vitamin A
β-carotene
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Summary:We have previously shown that β-carotene supplementation of the diets of healthy U.S. mothers increases serum and milk β-carotene concentrations. Building on these results, we investigated the possibility that β-carotene supplementation could enhance the vitamin A status of mothers and their nursing infants. Three 30-mg doses of β-carotene were administered on 3 consecutive days to 44 lactating mothers who had vitamin-A–poor diets. Concentrations of maternal serum and milk carotenoids and retinol were evaluated at baseline and after 2 and 3 days of supplementation. Infant serum carotenoids and retinol were measured at baseline and 2 days following maternal supplementation. β-Carotene supplementation markedly elevated maternal serum and milk β-carotene concentrations (nine- and sevenfold, respectively) and resulted in smaller, transient increases of α-carotene, lycopene, and β-cryptoxanthin concentrations in maternal serum. Maternal serum and milk retinol were unchanged in response to the treatment. In contrast, maternal β-carotene supplementation significantly increased infant serum retinol ( P ≤ 0.001) and β-carotene concentrations remained unchanged. These results imply that breast milk β-carotene can supply retinol for the nursing infant. Further research is needed to identify the site of bioconversion of milk-derived β-carotene to retinol and to describe the factors that regulate this process.
ISSN:0955-2863
1873-4847
DOI:10.1016/S0955-2863(99)00041-8