Selenium Intake in Breast - fed Infants during Course of Lactation

The purposes of this study were to investigate selenium content of human milk and selenium intake of breast-fed infants at each period of lactation longitudinally. The human milk intake in breast-fed infants was measured by test-weighing method from 20 lactating mothers at 1, 2 and 3 months postpartum. Selenium content in the milk was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry with hydride generation after wet digestion of samples. Selenium intake in breast-fed infants was calculated by multiplying human milk intakes by selenium contents. The milk intakes were 640, 726 and 715g/day at 1, 2 and 3 months postpartum. The selenium contents in human milk were characterized by a pattern of slight decline with advancing stage of lactation: 13.1, 11.5 and 9.8㎍/L at 1,2 and 3 months during lactation. There was a large individual variation at any stage of this study. The mean dietary selenium intakes in breast-fed infants were 8.38, 8.35 and 6.98㎍/day at 1, 2 and 3 months postpartum, respectively. The mean daily intakes on a body weight basis were gradually decreased during the course of lactation.