INTRODUCTION

Breastfeeding mothers and infants are vulnerable groups to vitamin A deficiency (VAD). The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the nutritional status of vitamin A in the mother and the exclusively breastfed infant.

METHODS

An observational, analytical, cross-sectional study was carried out in 6-month-old breastfed infants and their mothers. Serum and milk vitamin A concentration was assessed by liquid chromatography. Average vitamin A concentrations and prevalences of VAD in serum and milk were calculated and compared using statistical tests.

RESULTS

A total of 63 mother-child dyads were studied. The mean concentrations of retinol in maternal and infant serum were 1.84±0.48 pmol/L and 1.09±0.25 pmol/L, respectively. There were no mothers with VAD in serum, and 5% of the infants were deficient. The median concentration of retinol in breast milk was 15.57 pg/g fat (11.37; 23.98), and 12% were deficient. A statistically significant difference was found between serum retinol levels of infants fed adequate and deficient milk (0.85±0.16 pmol/L and 1.10±0.24 pmol/L, respectively; p=0.042).

DISCUSSION

The nutritional status of vitamin A of the mothers was adequate, although 12% of the milk was deficient, and 5% of infants presented VAD. The serum retinol levels of infants fed poor milk were lower than those fed adequate milk.

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