This Iranian study measured zinc and copper in breast milk from 30 mothers at two months postpartum and in two infant formula brands bought in Tehran. Milk zinc was not related to maternal age, weight, height, education or occupation. Formula zinc was somewhat higher than milk zinc, but the difference was not significant.
Key numbers
- Human milk zinc 2.95 ± 0.77 mg/L (n = 30) and infant formula zinc 3.98 ± 0.25 mg/L (n = 2 brands); P = 0.19 (Table 1, p. 55).
- Copper 0.36 ± 0.11 mg/L in milk and 0.53 ± 0.17 mg/L in formula (Table 1, p. 55).
Methods (brief)
Milk (20 mL) was expressed manually and frozen; 10 mL portions were lyophilized, digested with nitric acid under pressure and analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Formula samples were prepared following a cited method.
Evidence fitness
The paper supports a single time-point breast milk zinc value for one city and an example comparison with two formulas. Two formula brands cannot describe the formula market, and the paper does not estimate infant intake.
Limitations
Only two formulas; formula preparation and reconstitution basis are not detailed. No reference material results are given. The authors state their milk values were lower than those in the literature.
Related evidence
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