Topical Area: Maternal, Perinatal and Pediatric Nutrition

Objectives : Human milk is the most important source for neonates to acquire adequate vitamin E for their immune system and brain growth. Among all tocopherols, infant brain discriminates in favor of the natural occurring RRR-α-tocopherol against the synthetic α-tocopherol stereoisomers and other tocopherols. However, the stereoisomer profiles of α-tocopherol in Chinese human milk have not been previously reported. This study aimed to analyze the stereoisomer profile of α-tocopherol in Chinese human milk over different lactation stages.

Methods : Colostrum (day 0-7), transitional milk (day 8-15) and mature milk (day 40-45) were collected longitudinally from 89 healthy lactating mothers of full-term, singleton delivery. The levels of α-tocopherol stereoisomers (RRR, RSR, RSS, RRS, Σ2S) were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

Results : In three lactation stages, RRR-α-tocopherol is the predominated stereoisomers in Chinese human milk (p< 0.0001), accounting for an average proportion of 85% of total α-tocopherol. In contrast, the ratios of the synthetic stereoisomers were RRS, 5.10-6.02 %; RSR, 2.32-3.31%, RSS, 2.66-2.85%; and Σ2S, 2.89%-3.49%. The mean total α-tocopherol was 9.20mg/L in colostrum but sharply declined to 4.10 mg/L in mature milk. After taking the different breastfeeding volumes over lactation stages into consideration, Chinese human milk constantly provided about 3.5 mg/day α-tocopherol and 2.98 mg/day RRR-α-tocopherol to infants.

Conclusions : RRR-α-tocopherol is the predominated stereoisomer in Chinese human milk over different lactation stages. Chinese breastmilk supply higher % of RRR- stereoisomer as 85% of total α-tocopherol than US report as 75%. There is, therefore, a demand to add matched level of RRR- α-tocopherol in Chinese formula.

Funding Sources : Abbott

Presenting Author(s)

• XC

  Xiaokun Cai

  Abbott

Co-Author(s)

• YM

  Yingyi Mao

  Abbott

• FT

  Fang Tian

  Abbott

• LC

  Lei Chen

  Abbott

• YZ

  Yanrong Zhao

  Abbott

• KW

  Ke Wu

  Shanghai Jiao Tong University

• MC

  Meiqin Cai

  Shanghai Jiao Tong University

• YG

  Yan Guan

  Abbott