Copper, iron, zinc, and selenium dietary intake and status of Nepalese lactating women and their breast-fed infants

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 47; no. 4; pp. 729 - 734
• Main Authors: Moser, PB, Reynolds, RD, Acharya, S, Howard, MP, Andon, MB, Lewis, SA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Elsevier Inc 01-04-1988; American Society for Clinical Nutrition
• Subjects: ABSORCION DE SUBSTANCIAS NUTRITIVAS; ABSORPTION DE SUBSTANCES NUTRITIVES; Asia; Beverages; Biological and medical sciences; Biology; Breast Feeding; CINC; COBRE; Copper; Copper - administration & dosage; CUIVRE; Developing Countries; Diet; ESTADO NUTRICIONAL; ETAT NUTRITIONNEL; Evaluation; Female; FEMME; FER; Health; HIERRO; Human Milk; Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology; Humans; India; Infant; INFANTES; Ingredients And Chemicals; Inorganic Chemicals; Iron; Iron - administration & dosage; LACTACION; LACTATION; Maternal Nutrition; Maternal Physiology; Medical sciences; Metals; MUJERES; NEPAL; NOUVEAU-NE; Nutrition; Nutritional Status; Nutritional survey. Food supply and nutritional requirement; Physiology; Population; Pregnancy; Research Report; SELENIO; SELENIUM; Selenium - administration & dosage; Southern Asia; ZINC; Zinc - administration & dosage; India; Evaluation; Lactation; Nutrition; Health; Metals; Southern Asia; Human Milk; Maternal Nutrition; Biology; Iron; Inorganic Chemicals; Zinc; Maternal Physiology; Asia; Research Report; Developing Countries; Ingredients And Chemicals; Physiology; Copper; Nepal; Human; Developing countries; Infant; Breast feeding; Inorganic element; Food intake; Selenium; Woman; Nutritional status
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/47.4.729
• EISSN: 1938-3207
• ISSN: 0002-9165

The dietary intake of copper, iron, zinc, and selenium of 26 Nepalese lactating mothers was estimated from chemical analysis of 24-h food and beverage composites. Fasting blood and milk samples were obtained from the mothers and blood samples were obtained from the infants. The Nepalese mothers consumed significantly more Cu, significantly less Fe and Se, and similar amounts of Zn as compared with American lactating women. Blood Fe status indices and plasma concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Se were lower in the Nepalese mothers than in the American mothers. These lower values may in part be related to the high neutral detergent fiber and phytate content of the Nepalese diet, which could make these minerals less available for absorption. The high exposure to infections in Nepal may also depress Fe status indices and plasma Zn concentrations. The lower dietary Se intake of the Nepalese mothers was reflected in lower milk concentrations.