Cj. Lammikeefe et al., VITAMIN-E IN PLASMA AND MILK OF LACTATING WOMEN WITH INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS, Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, 20(3), 1995, pp. 305-309
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.