BETA-CAROTENE IN BREAST-MILK AND SERUM IS INCREASED AFTER A SINGLE BETA-CAROTENE DOSE

Normal lactating mothers were administered a single dose of 60 or 210 mg beta-carotene and changes in serum and mill; retinol, alpha-tocophe rol, and carotenoids were monitored for 8 d. Average serum beta-carote ne concentrations increased 4.1- and 4.0-fold after the 60- and 210-mg doses, respectively. Milk beta-carotene concentrations increased 4.1- and 3.0-fold after the 60- and 210-mg doses, respectively. Maximum se rum concentrations were reached 24 h after both supplements, although concentrations of milk beta-carotene continued to rise for 2-3 d. Afte r 8 d, both serum and milk beta-carotene concentrations remained about twofold higher than baseline concentrations. Increases in serum or mi ll; beta-carotene concentrations were not dose-dependent. Initial seru m and milk concentrations of beta-carotene predicted increases after s upplementation, and increases in serum beta-carotene concentrations pr edicted those in milk. Concentrations of milk carotenoids were less th an one-tenth their respective concentrations in serum. Lutein, beta-cr yptoxanthin, lycopene, alpha-carotene, retinol, and alpha-tocopherol c oncentrations in serum or milk did not change significantly after beta -carotene supplementation. Retinol esters account for most of the reti nol equivalents in the milk of well-nourished mothers. Initial and max imum concentrations of beta-carotene in serum and milk were strongly c orrelated for individual mothers. Collectively, the data showed that a single 60-mg supplement of beta-carotene sustained elevated beta-caro tene concentrations in serum and milk for >1 wk in normal mothers but did not affect concentrations of other major carotenoids, retinol, or alpha-tocopherol.