Dietary intakes of zinc, copper, and iron during lactation did not affect the concentrations of zinc, copper, and iron in the milk samples analyzed. Intakes of vitamin C, selenium, and iodine were associated with the concentration of copper in the milk samples analyzed, and consumption of food categorized as 'meat and meat products' was positively associated with the concentration of zinc. Consumption of rice was the top contributor to the concentrations of all three minerals.
In conclusion, associations between maternal diet and nutrient concentrations in transitory human milk can provide useful information, particularly in regard to infant growth.
Human milk is considered to provide an infant with all the essential nutrients needed in the early stages of life following birth. Correspondingly, the World Health Organization recommends that breastfeeding should constitute the exclusive source of nutrition for infants up to at least 6 months of age. Therefore, investigations of human milk content and the factors affecting human milk composition are important for improving the growth and development of breastfeeding infants and for establishing nutritional requirements for lactating mothers. Minerals are essential nutrients for the growth and development of healthy tissues for both adults and infants. The concentrations of most minerals in human milk remain fairly constant during lactation, except for zinc, copper, and iron.
