Shawahna Ramzi
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, An-Najah National University, New Campus, Building: 19, Office: 1340, P.O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine.
An-Najah BioSciences Unit, Centre for Poisons Control, Chemical and Biological Analyses, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
Biol Trace Elem Res. 2022 Nov;200(11):4632-4640. doi: 10.1007/s12011-022-03347-8. Epub 2022 Jun 29.
Zinc is one of the most important essential micronutrients that is needed for the normal growth, development, and maintaining the health of human beings. Previous studies showed that zinc deficiency was highly prevalent among pregnant and lactating women. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine breast milk zinc levels among breastfeeding women in Palestine and to identify the predictors of breast milk zinc levels. Breast milk samples were obtained from breastfeeding women who visited maternity and primary healthcare centers. Zinc levels were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Breast milk zinc levels were determined in 390 breast milk samples. The mean breast milk zinc level in all samples was 0.15 ± 0.09 mg per 100 mL. Breast milk zinc levels declined with postpartum time from 0.22 ± 0.011 at ≤ 1 month postpartum to 0.09 ± 0.009 mg per 100 mL at > 9 months postpartum (p-value < 0.001). Multiple linear regression showed that high breast milk zinc levels were predicted by younger maternal age, postpartum time, being employed, frequent consumption of multivitamins/minerals, and practicing exclusive breastfeeding. In conclusion, the breast milk zinc levels quantified among breastfeeding women in Palestine were comparable to those previously reported among non-malnourished women elsewhere. The findings of this study are informative to pediatricians, gynecologists, nurses/midwives, breastfeeding advisors/counselors, nutritionists, and policymakers who might be interested in designing and implementing interventions to improve breast milk zinc levels.
锌是人体正常生长、发育及维持健康所需的最重要的必需微量元素之一。既往研究表明，锌缺乏在孕妇和哺乳期妇女中非常普遍。本横断面研究旨在测定巴勒斯坦母乳喂养女性的母乳锌水平，并确定母乳锌水平的预测因素。母乳样本取自前往妇产科和初级保健中心就诊的母乳喂养女性。采用电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定锌水平。共测定了390份母乳样本的锌水平。所有样本中母乳锌的平均水平为每100毫升0.15±0.09毫克。母乳锌水平随产后时间下降，从产后≤1个月时的0.22±0.011毫克每100毫升降至产后>9个月时的0.09±0.009毫克每100毫升（p值<0.001）。多元线性回归显示，母乳锌水平高的预测因素为产妇年龄较小、产后时间、就业情况、经常服用多种维生素/矿物质以及进行纯母乳喂养。总之，巴勒斯坦母乳喂养女性的母乳锌水平与其他地方非营养不良女性先前报告的水平相当。本研究结果对可能有兴趣设计和实施干预措施以提高母乳锌水平的儿科医生、妇科医生、护士/助产士、母乳喂养顾问/咨询师、营养学家和政策制定者具有参考价值。
