Iodine concentration in breast milk of preterm infants mothers

In this prospective study the longitudinal iodine concentration was compare d in breast milk of preterm infants mothers, with and without iodine supple mentation. 195 samples of breast milk from 60 mothers were analyzed by HPLC longitudinally. Results: Mothers who take additional iodine (200 mu g/d) had significant hi gher mean iodine concentrations in breast milk(mean: 7.6 +/- 6.3 mu g/dl) t han mothers without additional iodine supply (mean: 5.5 +/- 5.8 mu g/dl/p < 0.02). Nontreated mothers showed significantly more breast milk iodine concentrati ons below the recommended minimum concentration of 5 mu g/dl (64%, n = 84) than treated mothers (40%, n = 25/p = 0.0016). Mean iodine intake in preter m infants of treated mothers was higher (11,9 mu g l/kg) than in preterm in fants of nontreated mothers (7,9 mu g l/kg). Discussion:The measured iodine concentrations in breast milk of preterm inf ants mothers markedly varied inter- and intraindividual. The variations mig ht be explained by irregular daily iodine intake and a dilution effect by i ncreasing breast milk volumes. Conclusions: Iodine supplementation of lactating mothers leads to elevated iodine content of their breast milk. The recommended intake of iodine for b oth newborns (15 mu g l/kg) and preterm infants (30 mu g l/kg) was not reac hed in the breast fed preterm infants in both groups of our study.