Effect of maternal dietary vitamin C intake on the level of vitamin C in breastmilk among nursing mothers in Baghdad, Iraq
Tawfeek, H.I.; Muhyaddin, O.M.; al-Sanwi, H.I.; al-Baety, N.
Food and Nutrition Bulletin 23(3): 244-247
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0379-5721 PMID: 12362586 DOI: 10.1177/156482650202300302Document Number: 266036
The vitamin C content of breast milk was investigated in a group of nursing mothers attending maternal and child health centres in Baghdad, Iraq during 1998-2000. Two hundred healthy, nonsmoking, 28- to 38-year-old lactating women were studied. Individual samples of breast milk were obtained for estimation of vitamin C. Dietary data were collected by using 24-hour food recalls. The mean intake of vitamin C was far below the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization requirement of (26+or-2.13 (SD) mg/day). The vitamin C content of breast milk was significantly correlated with the maternal intake of vitamin C (r=0.61, p<0.01). The vitamin C content of breast milk varied with the season. The level was much higher in summer (3.9+or-1.05 mg/100 ml) than in winter (3.02+or-2.01 mg/100 ml; p<0.05). This fluctuation indicates the dependence of breast milk vitamin C on dietary intake. The results show the need to increase the consumption of vegetables and fruits and to monitor maternal ascorbic acid intake.