RELATIONSHIP OF MATERNAL VITAMIN B-6 STATUS TO ANTIMICROBIAL FACTORS IN HUMAN COLOSTRUM AND NUTRITURE OF BREASTFED INFANTS
Abstract
Vitamin B-6 is known to be essential to normal development of the central nervous system as well as to immunocompetence. Certain immune factors have been reported to be transmitted in utero to the fetus and also via human milk to the breastfed infant. Hence, this study examined antimicrobial factors in cord blood as well as in human colostrum relative to the vitamin B-6 status of the mother. Also, vitamin B-6 concentration in milk, nutritional status and growth of breastfed infants were examined. IgG is known to be transferred via placenta to cord blood. Findings from this study indicated that the concentration of IgG in cord blood was positively correlated to the level of maternal supplement of vitamin B-6 and to nutritional status of the mother assessed by plasma pyridoxial phosphate (PLP). Also, concentrations of IgA, lysozyme and lactoferrin were significantly higher in colostrum of mothers supplemented during pregnancy with 4-10mg PN.HCl/day than values for mothers supplemented with less vitamin. Specific antibodies to C. jejuni were found in colostrum; however, the relationship of this finding as well as that of antimicrobial factors to maternal vitamin B-6 status were inconclusive due to the small sample size. Vitamin B-6 concentration in milk paralleled the level of vitamin B-6 supplementation of the mother. Also concentrations of vitamin B-6 in milk reflected levels of plasma PLP in the mothers' blood. Breastfed infants of mothers supplemented with 2.5 mg PN.HCl/day, the level proposed by the Committee for Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for lactation, had the lower intakes of vitamin B-6 and lower plasma PLP levels than corresponding values for infants whose mothers were supplemented with 4-10 mg PN.HCl/day. None of the mothers who consumed vitamin B-6 in amounts equivalent to the current RDA provided enough of the vitamin in their milk to meet the current RDA of 0.3 mg/day. Some infants appeared to have inadequate vitamin B-6 nutriture as assessed by plasma PLP levels. Even though the intakes of vitamin B-6 were low relative to the RDA, growth of the infants was within normal ranges and noovert symptoms of vitamin B-6 deficiency were observed. These findings suggested that the need to reevaluate the current RDA for lactating women and young infants and also to establish parameters for determining vitamin B-6 requirements of infants in addition to growth.
Degree
Ph.D.
Subject Area
Nutrition
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