Association between Antioxidant Content in Mature Human Breast Milk and Diet in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Background: Cell damage due to oxidative stress during the neonatal period has been associated with diseases. Human breast milk is an important source of antioxidants which protect newborn against oxidative stress damages. However, the dietary habits of lactating mothers may influence the nutritional value of milk during lactation period.

Aims: The principal aim of this study was to compare the antioxidant content of mature human milk during two periods of lactation in Ivorian women who consumed different diets.

Methodology: Samples of mature human milk were collected from healthy breastfeeding women on the 45th and 105th day postpartum. Food intake frequencies of mothers were obtained using questionnaire and infants were also weighted. The Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of mature milk samples were determined using FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) assay and free radical scavenging activity was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals.

Results: In this study, a final sample size of 75 breastfeeding women was retained. Two predominant basic diets which are cooked rice with oil palm seed juice sauce (R-SG) and cooked pasty mixture of plantain and cassava accompanied with eggplant sauce (F-SAU), involving, respectively, 50 and 25 lactating women, were determined. Regarding R-SG and F-SAU diets, a significant increase (P < .05) in level of TAC was observed between milk collected on 45th and 105th day postpartum, while no significant difference was found concerning percentage of inhibition of DPPH radical at the same periods. Also, TAC and antiradical activity in breast milk of women who received R-SG diet and F-SAU diet as well as day 45 and day 105 postpartum were statistically comparable (P > .05). Otherwise, TAC and antiradical activity of women’s breast milk following these diets were correlated with weight of the newborns on 105th day postpartum.

Conclusion: Based on our results, it is concluded that antioxidant activities in breast milk of women from R-SG diet and F-SAU diet were comparable.