COPPER, ZINC AND SELENIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN MILK FROM MIDDLE-CLASS WOMEN IN BURUNDI (AFRICA) THROUGHOUT THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF LACTATION

Copper, zinc and selenium were measured in a total of 47 samples of human milk from five middle-class women from Burundi, Africa. Milk samples were taken from day 2 after delivery to 10 months postpartum Copper and zinc were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, while a hydride generation mode was used for selenium. The average copper concentration declined from 0.59 +/- 0.01 mu g ml(-1) at day 2 to 0.08 +/- 0.04 mu g ml(-1) after 10 months of lactation. Zinc levels decreased from a mean of 3.8 +/- 0.5 mu g ml(-1) to 0.75 +/- 0.02 mu g ml(-1) after 10 months. For selenium, the concentration at day 2 (15.2 +/- 2.3 ng ml(-1)) declined only after 2 weeks to a value of 5.2 ng ml(-1) 10 months postpartum. For copper a diurnal variation was observed. Compared to literature data, copper and zinc levels in Burundian women proved to be in the normal range, while selenium concentration levels were at a lower level.