Concentration of alpha-tocopherol in human colostrum and infant formulas and the compliance with the newborn nutritional requirement

Abstract

This study compared the alpha-tocopherol contents in human colostrum and infant formulas, and the vitamin E requirements for newborns were assessed in the both samples. To perform this cross-sectional study, the colostrums samples were collected from 82 lactating women, under fasting conditions, and immediately after postpartum period. Alpha-tocopherol contents were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Four brands of infant formula (F1, F2, F3, and F4), appropriate for children aged 0–6 months, were obtained from a supermarket. The mean alpha-tocopherol concentration in the colostrum was 1479 ± 807.7 μg/dL, and in the formulas was 810 ± 182.4 μg/dL, which corresponded to the availability of 7.3 mg/day and 4.1 mg/day, respectively. The alpha-tocopherol concentration in colostrum was 43 % higher than that in infant formulas, and 82 % higher than those the age-related recommended contents. The F3 formula contained 68 % of the recommended daily dose of alpha-tocopherol only; and the other formulas showed concentrations of >4 mg/day. Therefore, the colostrum provides alpha-tocopherol in an amount higher than that found in infant formula, and not all of the formulas provided alpha-tocopherol in quantities higher than those recommended to meet the needs and to form alpha-tocopherol reserves for newborns.