VITAMIN-E IN PLASMA AND MILK OF LACTATING WOMEN WITH INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

We measured levels of plasma and milk alpha-tocopherol in women with i nsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), women without IDDM, and hea lthy reference women. Milk collections were made at 7, 14, 42, and 84 days postpartum; blood was collected at 3, 14, and 42 days. Postprandi al glucose at 80 min was used to describe metabolic control of women w ith IDDM postpartum. There was no difference between the groups for pl asma a-tocopherol, which was within normal reported levels. Tocopherol (mu g/g lipid) decreased by similar to 50% in all groups between 7 an d 14 days. The trend for milk tocopherol was similar when expressed as mu g/dl. Metabolic control did not have a significant effect on mean milk or plasma a-tocopherol. We have shown that this group of women wi th IDDM produced a milk with vitamin E content similar to control and reference women. We conclude that the infant of the breast-feeding wom an with IDDM who is in good metabolic control during pregnancy and who receives good prenatal counseling most likely receives adequate vitam in E from the mother's milk.