Table 5 Summary effect of nutritional vitamins supplements on status of vitamin E human milk composition

Clemente [60]

A control group without treatment, a group receiving an acetate capsule with natural RRR-a-TOH (GNAT), and a group receiving an acetate capsule with synthetic all-rac-a-TOH

(GSINT)

109 healthy lactating women ages 18 to 40 year.

A randomized double-blind clinical trial

Evaluate levels of vitamin E in human colostrums when lactating mothers were given supplements of either natural or synthetic forms of alpha-tocopherol.

A-tocopherol

Women who received supplementation had higher concentrations of a-TOH in colostrums than the control group, with 57 and 39% increases in women supplemented with the natural and synthetic forms of a-TOH, respectively.

4/5

Americas (AMRO)

Gaur [61]

The 3 groups were as follows: 1) 45.5 mg all-rac-a-TAc (ARAC), 2) 22.8 mg all-rac-a-Tac + 20.1 mg RRR-a-tocopherol (MIX), and 3) 40.2 mg RRR-a-tocopherol (RRR

Eighty-nine mothers aged 19–40 years.

Prospective, randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled

To elucidate the effect of a-tocopherol supplementation with RRR-a-tocopherol, all-rac-a-tocopherol acetate (Tac), or a mixture (combination of RRR-a-tocopherol and all-rac-a-Tac) on the a-tocopherol stereoisomer distribution in plasma and milk.

A-tocopherol structural isomers and a-tocopherol stereoisomers

There were no significant treatment group or time-dependent changes in milk or plasma a, g, or d-tocoph erol. Supplementation changed both milk and plasma percentage RRR-a-tocopherol (P < 0.05) and percentage non-RRRa-tocopherol (P < 0.05). In the RRR group, percentage RRR-a-tocopherol increased in milk (mean 6SEM: 78 62.3% compared with 82 61.7%) (P < 0.05)

3/5

Americas (AMRO)

Johnson [33]

Beta carotene

Healthy lactating women (1–8 mo postpartum, 18–40 y old)

Randomized clinical trial

Examination of the concentration of BC isomers in breast milk and buccal mucosa cells after continuous oral doses of BC isomers is a simple, non-invasive method.

Beta carotene

The changes in breast milk concentration of all-trans BC in response to a continuous oral dose of BC followed a pattern similar to that for serum. A significant increase in concentration was observed by d 3 (P < 0.009) and steadily increased to six times the baseline level (d 1) by the end of the supplementation period (d 8, P < 0.0001).

2/5

Americas (AMRO)

Kanno [62]

d-α.Tocopherol

Mother, who had delivered a low-birth-weight infant (1975 g) after 38 weeks of gestation

Quasi experimental study

To investigated the transfer of a-T into the breast milk of a lactating mother who was orally administered with α.Tocopherol

α.Tocopherol

By a single dose of α. Tocopherol, the content of α. Tocopherol per lipid was increased by a maximum of 7-fold and the ratio of α. Tocopherol equivalent/PUFA was markedly improved, although the total amount of α. Tocopherol transferred into the milk was small.

1/5

WPRO (Western Pacific Regional Office)

Medeiros [63]

A single oral dose of 400 IU natural vitamin E.

Participants were women aged between 18 and 45 years.

Randomized clinical trial

To assess the effect of vitamin E supplementation on the α-tocopherol concentrations of colostrums, transitional milk and mature milk of women who had given birth prematurely.

Α-Tocopherol

Breast milk α-tocopherol concentrations increased by 60% 24 h after supplementation in the intervention group and did not increase at all in the control group. Α-Tocopherol concentration of the transitional milk in the supplemented group was 35% higher compared with the control group.

2/5

Americas (AMRO)

Melo [64]

capsules containing 400 international units (IU) of alpha-tocopherol

99 healthy pregnant women; mean age was 24 ± 6 years.

Randomized clinical trial

To evaluate the effect of maternal supplementation with vitamin E on the concentration of α tocopherol in colostrums and its supply to the newborn.

a-tocopherol

After supplementation, the mean concentration of -tocopherol in the mothers’ colostrums was 1650.6 ± 968.7 and 2346.9 ± 1203.2 mg/dL in the CG and SG groups, respectively. However, the mean αtocopherol concentrations in supplemented women increased the concentration of αtocopherol secreted in colostrums by 61% (p < 0.001).

3/5

Americas (AMRO)