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Intake of zinc from human milk and complementary foods by 7 month old infants from the Sidama Zone in Southern Ethiopia
Author(s) -
Krebs Nancy F.,
Abebe Yewelsew,
Stoecker Barbara J.,
Gibson Rosalind S.,
Westcott Jamie E.,
Hambidge Michael
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a985-b
Subject(s) - breast milk , zinc , zoology , atomic absorption spectroscopy , contamination , chemistry , food science , medicine , biology , biochemistry , ecology , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
The objective of this study was to determine the zinc (Zn) concentrations of human milk and the intake of Zn from human milk and complementary foods (CF) by 7 mo old infants in rural Southern Ethiopia. A convenience sample of 20 maternal‐infant dyads was studied in the rural community of Alamura. Maternal Zn intakes in the community were very low relative to recommendations. Median infant age was 7.5 mo. Intakes of breast milk were determined by 24 hr test weighing; weighed records of CF were compiled concurrently. Daily milk samples were collected with precautions to avoid Zn contamination; Zn concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Zn content of CF was calculated from Ethiopian food table augmented by laboratory analyses. Mean (S.D.) milk Zn concentration was 1.05 (0.47) μg Zn/ml; milk intake was 524 (147) g/d, resulting in Zn intake from human milk of 0.57 (0.29) mg/d. Twelve infants consumed CF, which contributed an average of 0.69 (0.07) mg Zn/d. Total Zn intake for those infants receiving CF was 1.3 (0.03) mg Zn/d, compared to 0.41 (0.22) for those receiving human milk alone. Conclusion Milk Zn concentrations from women with low Zn intakes were not different from those of U.S. women. Total Zn intake of the infants receiving CF was approximately ½ of the U.S. Estimated Average Requirement, due primarily to low intake from CF. (Supported by NIH Grant #5 R21 TW006729 & Debub University).