2018/05/28 by Jasmijn Y. de Vries, Shikha Pundir, Elizabeth J. McKenzie +2 · 31 citations
Nursing · Medicine · #Vitamin C and Antioxidants Research #Folate and B Vitamins Research #Neonatal Health and Biochemistry #Colostrum #Vitamin #Vitamin D and neurology #Medicine #Physiology #Lactation #Endocrinology #Internal medicine #Pregnancy #Biology #Immunology #Antibody
paper · pdf · doi:10.3390/nu10060687
published in Nutrients 10(6), 687 (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)
openalex publication_date 2018/05/28 · openalex created_date 2018/06/13 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Colostrum is the first ingested sole nutritional source for the newborn infant. The vitamin profile of colostrum depends on the maternal vitamin status, which in turn is influenced by diet and lifestyle. Yet, the relationship between maternal vitamin status and colostrum vitamin composition has not been systematically reviewed. This review was conducted with the aim to generate a comprehensive overview on the relationship between maternal serum (plasma) vitamin concentration and corresponding colostrum composition. Three electronic databases, Embase (Ovid), Medline (Ovid), and Cochrane, were systematically searched based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, a total of 11 eligible publications were included that examined the vitamins A, C, D, E, and K in both biological fluids. Maternal vitamin A, D, E, and K blood levels were unrelated to colostrum content of the respective vitamins, and serum vitamin A was inversely correlated with colostrum vitamin E. Colostrum versus maternal serum vitamins were higher for vitamins A, C, and K, lower for vitamin D, and divergent results were reported for vitamin E levels. Colostrum appears typically enriched in vitamin A, C, and K compared to maternal serum, possibly indicative of active mammary gland transport mechanisms. Inter-individual and inter-study high variability in colostrum's vitamin content endorses its sensitivity to external factors.