Assessment of the effect of perinatal factors and preventive measures on iodine and iron concentrations in breast milk

Authors / Institutions

N.A.Belykh / Academician I.P.Pavlov Ryazan State Medical University, Ryazan, Russian Federation

The objective. To assess the effect of perinatal factors and preventive measures on iodine and iron concentrations in breast milk.
Patients and methods. We assessed iodine and iron concentrations in breast milk (n = 88); 16 women took potassium iodide preparations and iodised salt, 26 – vitamin-mineral complexes (VMC), containing 150 μg of potassium iodide, 22 – iodised salt, 24 –VMC without potassium iodide.

Results. The median iron level in breast milk was 3.1 μmol/l, iodine – 68.0 μg/l. The iodine and iron levels in breast milk did not depend on the term of childbirth, place of residence or character of nutrition of mothers, presence of anaemia or goiter during pregnancy. Iodine concentration in mother’s milk directly depended on individual iodine prophylaxis (p < 0.001). Against the background of iron prophylaxis, the median iron level in milk was 2.1 μmol/l vs. 3.4 μmol/l in mothers who did not take VMC (p = 0.16).

Conclusion. Iodine and iron concentrations in mother’s milk in the majority of examined women do not correspond to the physiological needs of a child. The use of VMC during lactation does not have a significant effect on the levels of iron in breast milk; iodine concentrations directly depend on iodine supplementation.

Key words: breast milk, breast infants, iron, iodine.

For citation: Belykh N.A. Assessment of the effect of perinatal factors and preventive measures on iodine and iron concentrations in breast milk. Vopr. det. dietol. (Pediatric Nutrition). 2016; 14(3): 10–14.
DOI: 10.20953/1727-5784-2016-3-10-14