The effect of maternal age on vitamin E status during the third trimester of pregnancy and on levels of vitamin E in maternal milk

BACKGROUND: Since pregnancy in older women is becoming more common, the aim of this work was to determine the influence of maternal age on third trime ster maternal vitamin E status, and on vitamin E levels in maternal milk. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The pregnancies and lactation periods of 57 women wer e examined, The intake of vitamin E during the third trimester of pregnancy was de-termined using a 5 days food record. Vitamin 5 concentrations in se rum, transition milk (days 13 and 14 of lactation) and mature milk (day 40 of lactation) were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HP LC). RESULTS: Pregnant women < 32 years of age (90th percentile) showed signific antly higher serum vitamin E levels (1.46 [0.38] mg/dl) than older pregnant women (1.19 [0.24] mg/dl). Transition milk vitamin 5 levels were significa ntly lower in pregnant women greater than or equal to 29 years of age (75 t h percentile) than did younger pregnant women (1.7 [0.4] mg/l compared to 2 .0 [0.7] mg/l). CONCLUSIONS: Given that serum vitamin 5 levels were seen to fall in pregnan cy and in transition milk, when maternal age increase, the monitoring of ma ternal nutritional status is highly recommendable. Antioxidant supplements, especially vitamin E, might be prescribed for older, pregnant women.