Abstract

Breast milk is a very rich nutritional delicacy for infants. It is nutritionally balanced and contain immunological agents that inactivate the influence of pathogens that cause diseases in children. There has been reports on the potency of breast milk to mothers and children, but the objective of this study is to determine the hormonal (leptin, prolactin and thyroxine) and mineral profiles of human breast milk during the lactation period and to determine the correlation between maternal milk leptin and systemic circulation leptin, prolactin and thyroxine. The changes in some micronutrients, specifically calcium and iron levels during lactation period were also determined. During the first 12 months of lactation period, milk leptin correlated positively or significantly with maternal serum leptin. Other maternal hormones also showed significant correlation. Concentration of milk calcium and iron showed significant decrease and increase respectively during the lactation period and a positive correlation existed between iron levels and lactation months. Conclusively, leptin level in breast milk decreased with lactation period and showed significant relationship with other maternal hormones. Milk calcium and iron levels decreased substantially as lactation period increased, while serum calcium and iron increased slightly as lactation period increased. It is suggested that maternal diet during lactation be supplemented with calcium and iron.

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