Thiamine Concentration in Human Milk Is Correlated With Maternal and Infant Thiamine Status: A Cross‐Sectional Analysis of the Lao Thiamine Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT The human milk content of some micronutrients including thiamine depends on maternal status, and if low, breastfed infants are at risk of deficiency. Thiamine deficiency remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality among infants in Asia. We aimed to explore correlations between maternal thiamine diphosphate (ThDP) or erythrocyte transketolase activation coefficient (ETKac) and human milk thiamine concentration (MTh) and between MTh and infant ThDP or ETKac among breastfed infants 1.25) 52.6%, and low MTh ( 1.25) 50.2%. MTh was moderately correlated with infant ThDP concentration (ρ = 0.39) and with infant ETKac (ρ = −0.52). Maternal thiamine status predicts the thiamine concentration in human milk, and thiamine status of breastfed infants < 6 months of age depends on the thiamine provided through this milk. Effective interventions are needed to improve maternal and infant thiamine status and wellbeing. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03626337.

Keywords

• breastmilk thiamine
• erythrocyte transketolase
• Laos
• thiamine diphosphate
• Vitamin B1