COPPER, ZINC AND SELENIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN MILK FROM MIDDLE-CLASS WOMEN IN BURUNDI (AFRICA) THROUGHOUT THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF LACTATION

Copper, zinc and selenium were measured in a total of 47 samples of hu man milk from five middle-class women from Burundi, Africa. Milk sampl es were taken from day 2 after delivery to 10 months postpartum Copper and zinc were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, while a hydride generation mode was used for selenium. The average copper c oncentration declined from 0.59 +/- 0.01 mu g ml(-1) at day 2 to 0.08 +/- 0.04 mu g ml(-1) after 10 months of lactation. Zinc levels decreas ed from a mean of 3.8 +/- 0.5 mu g ml(-1) to 0.75 +/- 0.02 mu g ml(-1) after 10 months. For selenium, the concentration at day 2 (15.2 +/- 2 .3 ng ml(-1)) declined only after 2 weeks to a value of 5.2 ng ml(-1) 10 months postpartum. For copper a diurnal variation was observed. Com pared to literature data, copper and zinc levels in Burundian women pr oved to be in the normal range, while selenium concentration levels we re at a lower level.