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Levels of Trace Elements in Human Breast Milk in Jordan: a Comparison with Infant Formula Milk Powder

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Abstract

Human breast milk and infant formula milk powder (IFMP) are the main nutritional sources for infants. In the literature, there is a lack of studies concerning levels of trace elements in human milk and IMP in Jordan. The aim of this research was the determination of levels of 24 trace elements in human breast milk from Jordanian mothers (n = 76) and IFMP from Jordanian market (n = 22). Elements were classified to essential (Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Ni, Cr, Mo, Co, and Se), non-essential (Al, Ag, Ba, Bi, Cs, Ga, Li, Rb, Sr, U, and V), and potentially toxic (As, Cd, and Pb). Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) following a microwave digestion of samples with concentrated nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide was performed. Our results featured levels of each targeted element in human milk and IFMP (mean, standard deviation (SD), median, and range). Statistical analysis included a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson’s correlations. A sample toxicological analysis study for toxic elements As, Cd, and Pb was performed, and results were inspected. Levels of most elements including toxic elements are larger than in human milk samples, and comparable to in IFPMs to literature results. Mean levels of majority of the elements (17 out of 24) in human milk were significantly different than respective means in IFMP solutions. Positive correlation was observed between total toxic elements and Al, Cu, and Fe in human milk samples. Results of toxicological analysis demonstrated that most of IFMP samples do not represent a health hazard to infants regarding As, Cd, and Pb. The same applies for Cd in human milk samples. However, levels of As and Pb in 70% of human milk samples exceed the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) for As and Pb.

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Data Availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in the published article and its supplementary information files.

Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

bw:

Body weight

ET-AAS:

Electrothermal atomization-atomic absorption spectrometry

FAAS:

Flame atomic absorption spectrometry

IFMP:

Infant formula milk powder

HPW:

Home purified water

ICP-MS:

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

ICP-OES:

Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry

LOD:

Limit of detection

LOQ:

Limit of quantitation

MLOD:

Method limit of detection

MLOQ:

Method limit of quantitation

NAA:

Neutron activation analysis

nd:

Not detected

PTWI:

Provisional tolerable weekly intake

RSD:

Relative standard deviation

SD:

Standard deviation

WHO:

World Health Organization

HPW:

Home purified water

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Funding

This project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan (6/2016). We would like to thank all who participated in this research and provided human milk samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science and Arts, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, 22110, Irbid, Jordan

    Yahya R. Tahboub, Diab El shrafat & Israa A. Nsserat

  2. Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan

    Adnan M. Massadeh

  3. Department of Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan

    Nihaya A. Al-sheyab

Authors
  1. Yahya R. Tahboub
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  2. Adnan M. Massadeh
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Correspondence to Yahya R. Tahboub.

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Tahboub, Y.R., Massadeh, A.M., Al-sheyab, N.A. et al. Levels of Trace Elements in Human Breast Milk in Jordan: a Comparison with Infant Formula Milk Powder. Biol Trace Elem Res 199, 4066–4073 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02547-4

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