[Iodine concentration in the breast milk of mothers of premature infants].

UNLABELLED

In this prospective study the longitudinal iodine concentration was compared in breast milk of preterm infants mothers, with and without iodine supplementation. 195 samples of breast milk from 60 mothers were analyzed by HPLC longitudinally.

RESULTS

Mothers who take additional iodine (200 micrograms/d) had significant higher mean iodine concentrations in breast milk (mean: 7.6 +/- 6.3 micrograms/dl) than mothers without additional iodine supply (mean: 5.5 +/- 5.8 micrograms/dl/p < 0.02). Nontreated mothers showed significantly more breast milk iodine concentrations below the recommended minimum concentration of 5 micrograms/dl (64%, n = 84) than treated mothers (40%, n = 25/p = 0.0016). Mean iodine intake in preterm infants of treated mothers was higher (11.9 micrograms l/kg) than in preterm infants of nontreated mothers (7.9 micrograms l/kg).

DISCUSSION

The measured iodine concentrations in breast milk of preterm infants mothers markedly varied inter- and intraindividual. The variations might be explained by irregular daily iodine intake and a dilution effect by increasing breast milk volumes.

CONCLUSIONS

Iodine supplementation of lactating mothers leads to elevated iodine content of their breast milk. The recommended intake of iodine for both newborns (15 micrograms l/kg) and preterm infants (30 micrograms l/kg) was not reached in the breast fed preterm infants in both groups of our study.