The folate in human milk

Abstract

In previous studies of the folate content of human milk, samples were prepared for assay by a method that resulted in a turbid solution that was then assayed by a turbidimetric microbiological method. We have used an improved microbiological assay in which the milks were treated with rennin to precipitate casein and heated in a buffered ascorbate to coagulate lactalbumin and lactoglobulin. Milks were obtained serially from nursing mothers for periods ranging from 1 day to 6 months postpartum. The results showed that the folate in human milk has few glutamate residues since treatment with a purified folate conjugase preparation release no additional folate activity for Lactobacillus casei. Colostrum is relatively low in folate, but milk folate increases as lactation proceeds. During each stage of lactation there was great variation in milk folate content among the women. In the case of a folate-deficient woman, supplementation with folic acid resulted in a prompt increase in milk folate level.

Effect of Type of Heat Treatment of Breastmilk on Folate Content and Pattern

“…Folate content in breastmilk (collected until 1 year postpartum) from North America, 22,24,25 Asia, 31,32 the United Kingdom, 33 and human immunodeficiency virus-positive mothers in South Africa 21 ranged from 55 to 365 nmol/L. The presented data for folate content (sum of folates) in Swedish breastmilk samples were in the middle of the range of the literature values.…”

“…The high between-sample variation in the present trial (range, 56-254 nmol/L) could be attributed to variations in breastmilk folate content during one nursing session, 1 day, and the whole lactation period. 22,25,34 The only information available to us was that all breastmilk was collected within 3 months postpartum.…”

“…19 The negative effects of pasteurization have been suggested to be reduced by using rapid high temperature (RHT) treatments. 13,16,20,21 Breastmilk folate content and folate losses during heat treatment have been studied widely by microbiological assay 18,[22][23][24] or chemiluminescent immunoassay. 13,21 Using a differential microbiological assay, some information on the folate pattern in human milk was obtained 25,26 ; oxidized intact folate vitamers were detected in breastmilk samples from women taking daily folic acid supplements during pregnancy.…”

The effect of dietary riboflavin supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on riboflavin concentrations of milk, liver and carcass of lactating rats

“…Reports in the literature show that concentrations of other B‐vitamins such as thiamin (R oth ‐M aier et al 1996) or vitamin B 6 (K irchgessner et al 1996) in milk are also markedly influenced by the supplementary level during lactation. In lactating women, concentrations of various B‐vitamins such as thiamin and riboflavin (D ostalova 1988), vitamin B 6 and B 12 (S need et al 1981), biotin (G oldsmith et al 1982), folic acid (C ooperman et al 1982) and pantothenic acid (J ohnston et al 1981) also have been shown to be influenced by the intake during the lactation period. Consequently, it can be concluded that the intake of B‐vitamins during lactation influences their concentrations in milk.…”

Camel Milk

“…Sawaya et al (1984),Mohamed et al (2005),Faye et al (2008),Haddadin et al (2008) andKonuspayeva et al (2010).3 Hill & Morrissey(2011); Morrissey & Hill (2011a,2011b), Nohr et al (2011a-g), Sauvant et al (2011), van Staveren & de Groot (2011) and Witthöft(2011).4 Lakdawala & Widdowson (1977),Cooperman et al (1982),Byerley & Kirksey (1985),Haskell & Brown (1999),Korchazhkina et al (2006) andNohr et al (2011a-g).…”