K. Heiskanen et al., LOW VITAMIN-B-6 STATUS IN INFANTS BREAST-FED EXCLUSIVELY BEYOND 6 MONTHS, Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, 23(1), 1996, pp. 38-44
Our aim was to ascertain the adequacy of human milk as the sole source
of vitamin B-6 and the associations between maternal and infant statu
s during extended exclusive breast-feeding. Vitamin B-6 status was fol
lowed in lactating mothers and their exclusively breastfed infants by
determinations of erythrocyte pyridoxal 5'-phosphate concentration and
the erythrocyte aspartate transaminase stimulation test at 2 months (
n = 118), 4 months (n = 118), 6 months (n = 112), 7.5 months (n = 70),
9 months (n = 36), 10 months (n = 14), 11 months (n = 11), and 12 mon
ths (n = 7) postpartum. Of the mothers, 54% had used vitamin B-6 suppl
ement during pregnancy, and all received a pyridoxine hydrochloride su
pplement of 1 mg/day throughout lactation. The infants had a higher vi
tamin B-6 status than their mothers. During the first 4 months, infant
vitamin B-6 status was generally adequate independently of the actual
vitamin status of the nursing mother. Most of the infants with low st
atus at 2 months were those born to mothers who were not supplemented
during pregnancy. By 6 months of exclusive breast-feeding, 30% of case
s of low vitamin B-6 status in nursing mothers were reflected in their
infants. Thereafter, the risk of low vitamin B-6 status in exclusivel
y breast-fed infants increased even if the mother's status was adequat
e. Our findings suggest that gestationally accumulated stores are impo
rtant for the maintenance of adequate vitamin B-6 status of infants du
ring the early months and that for some infants, human milk alone, wit
hout supplementary foods, may be insufficient to meet vitamin B-6 need
s after 6 months of age.