Persistent Organic Pollutants in Human Milk: Exposure Levels and Determinants among Lactating mothers in Lebanon

Exposure of newborns to Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) is a public health concern. The objective of this study was to assess the occurrence of POPs in the human milk collected from lactating mothers in Lebanon and investigate the socio-demographic, nutritional, and other lifestyle determinants. Fifty-four breast milk samples were collected as per WHO guidelines. A survey was used to assess the anthropometric and demographic characteristics of participants. Dietary habits were evaluated using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls were measured in milk samples using liquid-liquid extraction and gas chromatography. Among the screened POPs, Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) was the only POP detected in breast milk samples. DDE contamination was found in 17.9 % of the samples only. Among the latter, the mean DDE was 11.6 µg/L (SD= 5.0) with a range of 5.7-21.4 µg/L. Pre-pregnancy BMI and age were positively associated with DDE contamination in breastmilk. Females who consumed cereals at least two times/week had detectable levels of DDE contamination in their breast milk. Consumption of potatoes and beans at least once/week was also associated with DDE contamination. Our study is the first to assess the presence of POPs in breast milk in Lebanon. The benefits of breastfeeding compensate for the low occurrence of DDEs. Our findings highlight the high need to implement monitoring policies, good agricultural practices, and education programs for breastfeeding mothers.

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Analysis of Aflatoxin M1 in Breast Milk and Its Association with Nutritional and Socioeconomic Status of Lactating Mothers in Lebanon

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-17-083 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 80 (10) ◽

pp. 1737-1741 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Jomana Elaridi ◽

Maya Bassil ◽

Joelle Abi Kharma ◽

Farah Daou ◽

Hussein F. Hassan

Keyword(s):

Breast Milk ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Daily Intake ◽

World Health ◽

Aflatoxin M1 ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Daily Consumption ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Lactating Mothers ◽

The Mean

ABSTRACT Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most potent of the dietary aflatoxins, and its major metabolite, aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), is frequently found in the breast milk of lactating mothers. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence and factors associated with AFM1 contamination of breast milk collected from lactating mothers in Lebanon. A total of 111 breast milk samples were collected according to the guidelines set by the World Health Organization. Samples were analyzed with a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay between December 2015 and November 2016. A survey was used to determine the demographic and anthropometric characteristics of participating lactating mothers. Dietary habits were assessed using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Mean (±standard deviation) concentration of AFM1 in the breast milk samples was 4.31 ± 1.8 ng/L, and 93.8% of samples contained AFM1 at 0.2 to 7.9 ng/L. The mean concentration of AFM1 was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in fall and winter (4.1 ± 1.9 ng/L) than in spring and summer (5.0 ± 1.7 ng/L). None of the samples exceeded the European Commission regulation limit (25 ng/L) for infant milk replacement formula. AFM1 contamination was significantly associated (P < 0.05) with the daily consumption of white cheeses but not with the consumption of meat or cereal products. No significant association (P > 0.05) was observed between AFM1 concentrations in breast milk and anthropometric sociodemographic factors (age and level of education) or the governorate of residence of the nursing mothers. The mean AFM1 estimated daily intake was found to be 0.69 ng/day/kg of body weight. Although the incidence of AFM1 contamination was low, our first-of-its-kind study highlights the importance of conducting investigations on mycotoxin contamination in breast milk and of developing protection strategies to tackle the exposure of infants to this potent chemical hazard.

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Chlorinated Paraffin Levels in Relation to Other Persistent Organic Pollutants Found in Pooled Human Milk Samples from Primiparous Mothers in 53 Countries

Environmental Health Perspectives ◽

10.1289/ehp7696 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 129 (8) ◽

pp. 087004

Author(s):

Kerstin Krätschmer ◽

Rainer Malisch ◽

Walter Vetter

Keyword(s):

Human Milk ◽

Organic Pollutants ◽

Persistent Organic Pollutants ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Chlorinated Paraffin

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COVID-19 Vaccine mRNABNT162b2 Elicits Human Antibody Response in Milk of Breastfeeding Women

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9070785 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 785

Author(s):

Maurizio Guida ◽

Daniela Terracciano ◽

Michele Cennamo ◽

Federica Aiello ◽

Evelina La Civita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Milk ◽

Antibody Response ◽

Human Milk ◽

Human Antibody ◽

Serum Antibodies ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Low Concentration ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Milk Antibodies ◽

Roche Diagnostics

Objective: The objective of this research is to demonstrate the release of SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) antibodies in human milk samples obtained by patients who have been vaccinated with mRNABNT162b2 vaccine. Methods: Milk and serum samples were collected in 10 volunteers 20 days after the first dose and 7 seven days after the second dose of the mRNABNT162b2 vaccine. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibodies were measured by the Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S ECLIA assay (Roche Diagnostics AG, Rotkreuz, Switzerland), a quantitative electrochemiluminescence immunometric method. Results: At first sample, anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibodies were detected in all serum samples (103.9 ± 54.9 U/mL) and only in two (40%) milk samples with a low concentration (1.2 ± 0.3 U/mL). At the second sample, collected 7 days after the second dose, anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibodies were detected in all serum samples (3875.7 ± 3504.6 UI/mL) and in all milk samples (41.5 ± 47.5 UI/mL). No correlation was found between the level of serum and milk antibodies; the milk antibodies/serum antibodies ratio was on average 2% (range: 0.2–8.4%). Conclusion: We demonstrated a release of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibodies in the breast milk of women vaccinated with mRNABNT162b2. Vaccinating breastfeeding women could be a strategy to protect their infants from COVID-19 infection.

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Human Breast Milk Contains Bovine lgG. Relationship to Infant Colic?

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.87.4.439 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 87 (4) ◽

pp. 439-444

Author(s):

Patrick S. Clyne ◽

Anthony Kulczycki

Keyword(s):

Breast Milk ◽

Human Milk ◽

Milk Protein ◽

Cow’S Milk ◽

Human Breast Milk ◽

Human Breast ◽

Cow's Milk ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Infant Colic ◽

Β Lactoglobulin

Previous studies have suggested that an unidentified cow's milk protein, other than β-lactoglobulin and casein, might play a pathogenetic role in infant colic. Therefore, a radioimmunoassay was used to analyze human breast milk and infant formula samples for the presence of bovine IgG. Milk samples from 88 of the 97 mothers tested contained greater than 0.1 µg/mL of bovine IgG. In a study group of 59 mothers with infants in the colic-prone 2- to 17-week age group, the 29 mothers of colicky infants had higher levels of bovine IgG in their breast milk (median 0.42 µg/mL) than the 30 mothers of noncolicky infants (median 0.32 µg/mL) (P < .02). The highest concentrations of bovine IgG observed in human milk were 8.5 and 8.2 µg/mL. Most cow's milk-based infant formulas contained 0.6 to 6.4 µg/mL of bovine IgG, a concentration comparable with levels found in many human milk samples. The results suggest that appreciable quantities of bovine IgG are commonly present in human milk, that significantly higher levels are present in milk from mothers of colicky infants, and that bovine IgG may possibly be involved in the pathogenesis of infant colic.

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Human Milk Composition and Dietary Intakes of Breastfeeding Women of Different Ethnicity from the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of New Zealand

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu10091231 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1231 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Christine Butts ◽

Duncan Hedderley ◽

Thanuja Herath ◽

Gunaranjan Paturi ◽

Sarah Glyn-Jones ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

New Zealand ◽

Breast Milk ◽

Human Milk ◽

Milk Composition ◽

Pacific Island ◽

Dietary Intakes ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Food Diary ◽

Milk Samples

Human milk is nutrient rich, complex in its composition, and is key to a baby’s health through its role in nutrition, gastrointestinal tract and immune development. Seventy-eight mothers (19–42 years of age) of Asian, Māori, Pacific Island, or of European ethnicity living in Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand (NZ) completed the study. The women provided three breast milk samples over a one-week period (6–8 weeks postpartum), completed a three-day food diary and provided information regarding their pregnancy and lactation experiences. The breast milk samples were analyzed for protein, fat, fatty acid profile, ash, selected minerals (calcium, magnesium, selenium, zinc), and carbohydrates. Breast milk nutrient profiles showed no significant differences between the mothers of different ethnicities in their macronutrient (protein, fat, carbohydrate, and moisture) content. The breast milk of Asian mothers contained significantly higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and linoleic acids. Arachidonic acid was significantly lower in the breast milk of Māori and Pacific Island women. Dietary intakes of protein, total energy, saturated and polyunsaturated fat, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iodine, vitamin A equivalents, and folate differed between the ethnic groups, as well as the number of serves of dairy foods, chicken, and legumes. No strong correlations between dietary nutrients and breast milk components were found.

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Associations between internal exposure levels of persistent organic pollutants in adipose tissue and deep infiltrating endometriosis with or without concurrent ovarian endometrioma

Environment International ◽

10.1016/j.envint.2017.08.019 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 108 ◽

pp. 195-203 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Stéphane Ploteau ◽

German Cano-Sancho ◽

Christelle Volteau ◽

Arnaud Legrand ◽

Anaïs Vénisseau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adipose Tissue ◽

Organic Pollutants ◽

Persistent Organic Pollutants ◽

Internal Exposure ◽

Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis ◽

Ovarian Endometrioma ◽

Exposure Levels ◽

Infiltrating Endometriosis

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Menaquinone-4 in breast milk is derived from dietary phylloquinone

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1079/bjn2001505 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 87 (3) ◽

pp. 219-226 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

H. H. W. Thijssen ◽

M.-J. Drittij ◽

C. Vermeer ◽

E. Schoffelen

Keyword(s):

Vitamin E ◽

Breast Milk ◽

Vitamin K ◽

Post Partum ◽

Dose Effect ◽

Plasma Vitamin ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Plasma Samples ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Lactating Mothers

The effect of maternal phylloquinone supplementation on vitamin K in breast milk was studied to establish: (1) if phylloquinone is the source of menaquinone-4 in breast milk; (2) the dose–effect relationship between intake and obtainable levels. Four groups of lactating mothers with a full-term healthy infant participated and took oral phylloquinone supplements of 0·0 (n8), 0·8 (n8), 2·0 (n8), and 4·0 (n7) mg/d for 12 d, starting at day 4 post-partum. Milk samples were collected on days 4, 8, 16, and 19. Blood samples were collected on days 4 and 16. Vitamin K and vitamin E concentrations, the latter for reason of comparison, were assayed. Phylloquinone and menaquinone-4 were present in all milk samples: 5·84 (SD 2·31) AND 2·98 (sd 1·51) nmol/l (n31) respectively, in colostrum (day 4 sample). A strong correlation between the vitamers was found (r0·78,P<0·001). Breast-milk phylloquinone levels were raised in a dose-dependent manner: 4-, 12-, and 30-fold on day 16 for the 0·8, 2·0, and 4·0 mg group respectively. In addition, menaquinone-4 levels were higher: 2·5- (P<0·05) and 7-fold (P<0·001) in the 2·0 and 4·0 mg groups respectively. Plasma of supplemented subjects contained 3-, 5-, and 10-fold higher phylloquinone levels on day 16. Detectable menaquinone-4 was found in ten of thirty-one day 4 plasma samples. All day 16 plasma samples of the 4 mg supplemented group contained the vitamin. There was no correlation between the K-vitamers in plasma. Vitamin E and phylloquinone appear to differ in their distribution in breast milk, milk:plasma concentration ratios were ≤1 and 3–5 for vitamin E and phylloquinone respectively. The milk:plasma concentration ratio of menaquinone-4 was >10. In conclusion, dietary phylloquinone is a source of menaquinone-4 in breast milk. Phylloquinone supplementation to lactating mothers may be of benefit to the newborn infant, since both phylloquinone and menaquinone-4 are raised by supplementation.

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