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Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the levels of alpha-tocopherol in colostrum milk and serum of mothers with premature birth, classified as severe prematurity and moderate prematurity., Methods: Cross-sectional study with 65 women, 18 births classified as severe prematurity (<32 weeks of gestation) and 47 as moderate prematurity (≥32 weeks of gestation). The study only included mothers without any conditions associated with pregnancy and who had a single conception without any malformation. Samples of serum and colostrum were collected during fasting in the immediate postpartum, and alpha-tocopherol was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. To determine the biochemical nutritional status of vitamin E, a serum cutoff (11.6 μmol/L) was adopted. The Student t test for independent variables compared the average concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in serum and colostrum among prematurity groups. Differences were considered significant when P < 0.05., Results: The alpha-tocopherol concentrations in colostrum were similar in both groups, being 34.5 ± 20.2 μmol/L for women with severe prematurity and 35.1 ± 16.3 μmol/L for moderate prematurity. For the serum of puerperal women with severe prematurity, alpha-tocopherol concentration was, however, lower than in women with moderate prematurity, 22.2 ± 4.4 μmol/L versus 27.1 ± 8.6 μmol/L (P < 0.05). The serum levels of alpha-tocopherol indicated nutritional risk at 5.6% (n = 1) of women with severe prematurity and 4.3% (n = 2) for those with moderate prematurity., Conclusions: Severe prematurity affected the levels of alpha-tocopherol in maternal serum; however, the level of prematurity did not change the concentration of vitamin E in colostrum.

The adequate supply of vitamins A and E to newborns is essential. However, factors such as maternal nutritional status and nutrient interaction may limit its bioavailability. The aim of this study was to establish nutritional status for vitamins A and E and evaluate the correlation of retinol on colostrum alpha-tocopherol in lactating women. A total of 103 lactating women were recruited at a Brazilian public maternity hospital. Fasting serum and colostrum samples were collected in the immediate post-partum. Retinol and alpha-tocopherol levels were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and nutritional status for these vitamins was defined from specific cut-off points for serum and colostrum. Mean serum and colostrum retinol (1.49 µmol L(-1) , 2.18 µmol L(-1) ) and alpha-tocopherol (26.4 µmol L(-1) , 26.1 µmol L(-1) ) indicated satisfactory biochemical status. However, we found a prevalence of subclinical deficiency of vitamin A and vitamin E in serum (15.5% and 16%) and colostrum (50% and 60%). Lactating women with serum retinol ≥ 1.05 µmol L(-1) showed an inverse correlation between serum retinol and alpha-tocopherol concentration in the colostrum (P = 0.008, r = -0.28). This association was not observed in serum level < 1.05 µmol L(-1) . The nutritional status of lactating women for vitamins A and E was adequate, although there is a risk of subclinical deficiency. The negative correlation of serum retinol on alpha-tocopherol concentration in the colostrum must be carefully evaluated in situations of vitamin A supplementation, because alpha-tocopherol bioavailability in maternal milk may be compromised., (© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

Purpose: To determine the nutritional status of vitamin E in breastfeeding women through the analysis of alpha-tocopherol concentration in serum and colostrum, to analyze its relation with maternal variables and to determine the prevalence of vitamin E deficiency in these women., Methods: The study included 103 mothers who were classified according to maternal variables: age, nutritional status before pregnancy, gestational weight gain, parity and mode of delivery. Colostrum and serum samples were collected under fasting conditions in the immediate postpartum period. Alpha-tocopherol was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A serum cutoff of 697.7 μg/dL was adopted to define the nutritional status of vitamin E. Statistical analysis was performed with the Student's t test for independent samples and Pearson's correlation. Differences were significant when p<0.05., Results: The average concentration of alpha-tocopherol was 1.125±551.0 μg/dL in colostrum and 1,138.6±346.0 μg/dL in serum, indicating adequate biochemical nutritional status. However, when analyzing the mothers individually, a 16% rate of subclinical vitamin E deficiency was detected. Women undergoing cesarean delivery had significantly higher alpha-tocopherol levels in colostrum (1.280±591 μg/dL) compared with those undergoing normal delivery (961.7±370 μg/dL) (p<0.05). It was found that mothers who were overweight before pregnancy had higher vitamin concentration in colostrum (1,331.5±548 μg/dL) when compared to underweight women (982.1±374 μg/dL) or women of normal weight (992.3±346 μg/dL) (p<0.05). However, the other variables were not associated with alpha-tocopherol in colostrum. Moreover, no variable showed association with vitamin E levels in maternal serum and no correlation was demonstrated between the alpha-tocopherol levels in serum and in milk., Conclusions: Despite the diagnosis of satisfactory nutritional status, breastfeeding women showed significant risk of subclinical vitamin E deficiency. We suggest that the concentration of alpha-tocopherol in colostrum be associated with type of delivery and pre-gestational nutritional status of women.

Vitamin E is important because of its antioxidant activity in situations of oxidative stress, especially postnatally. Hence, the objective was to verify whether maternal alpha‐tocopherol level is associated with the alpha‐tocopherol levels of the newborn and colostrum. This is a cross‐sectional study of 58 women and their term newborns from a public hospital. Blood and colostrum were collected to measure alpha‐tocopherol levels by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Mothers with serum alpha‐tocopherol levels <16.2 mmol L−1 and newborns <11.6 mmol L−1 were indicative of deficiency or low levels. Mothers were divided into two groups: <16.2 mmol L−1 and those with levels ≥16.2 mmol L−1. The mean (95% confidence interval) serum alpha‐tocopherol levels of mothers, umbilical cords and colostrum were 28 (24–32), 6 (5–8) and 39 mmol L−1 (32–45), respectively (P < 0.001); 19% of the women and 90% of the newborns had low alpha‐tocopherol levels. Maternal alpha‐tocopherol level was associated with that of the umbilical cord. Newborns from mothers at risk of deficiency had low alpha‐tocopherol levels (P < 0.001). Colostrum levels of vitamin E were not influenced by maternal serum. Maternal deficiency influenced the vitamin E level of the umbilical cord but does not in the colostrum, evidencing distinct transfer mechanisms via the mammary gland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]