© 1984 by Oxford University Press
research-article |
Longitudinal Study of Plasma Vitamin E Levels in Entirely Breast-Fed and Partially Breast-Fed Brazilian Infants During the First Three Months of Life
From theDepartment of Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Pediatrics, University of Sáo Paulo Medical School Ribeiráo Preto, S.P., Brazil
*Division of Human Nutrition, University of British Columbia Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Address all correspondence and reprint requests to: Indrajit D. Desai, PhD., Professor of Nutrition and Director of Continuing Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V6T 1W5.
A longitudinal study on 56 full term Brazilian infants, from birth to 3 months of age, was carried out to assess the status of vitamin E nutrition in entirely breast-fed and partially breast-fed infants. At 3 months of age it was observed that exclusively breast-fed infants had higher ratios of plasma vitamin E to total lipids than partially breast-fed infants receiving cow's milk formula. None of the entirely breast-fed infants but 44 per cent of the partially breast-fed infants had ratios under the minimum level proposed as adequate
It can be concluded from the results of this investigation that breast-feeding is ideal for maintaining adequate vitamin E status among infants and that partial breast-feeding supplemented with cow's milk can cause vitamin E inadequacies among infants. Plasma ratio of 0.6 mg of vitamin E/g of total lipids appears to be the most appropriate criterion for the evaluation of vitamin E status of infants