Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Carotenoids of human colostrum

  • Published:
Lipids

Abstract

Colostrum, the initial postpartum secretion of the breast, ordinarily has a distinct yellow color due to carotenoids of its fat globules. This pigmentation progressively diminishes as milk production increases during the first week of lactation. Identity of these cartenoids was investigated by means of thin-layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography and spectral analysis. α- and β-carotene, lycopene and β-cryptoxanthin were revealed as major chromogens. A component corresponding to lutein and/or zeaxanthin was also detected by both chromatographic techniques. Extracts of 23 saponified colostrum samples from 10 donors revealed considerable variation in total carotenoid concentration (0.34–7.57 μg/ml of colostrum). Multiparous mothers had greater mean colostrum carotenoid concentrations than did the primiparae, 2.18±1.94 vs 1.14±1.32 μg/ml, respectively. Seven of the eight primiparous donors' samples had little or no yellow color. These findings imply a difference in carotenoid transport by breasts that have lactated as compared to those that have not. The interrelation of carotenoids, lactation and breast cancer is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

BHT:

butylated hydroxytoluene

HPLC:

high performance liquid chromatography

TG:

triacylglycerol

TLC:

thinlayer chromatography

References

  1. Goodwin, T.W. (1984)The Biochemistry of the Carotenoids, Vol. II, pp. 173–195, Chapman and Hall, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Chapell, J.E., Francis, T., and Clandinin, M.T. (1985)Early Hum. Dev. 11, 157–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Patton, S., Huston, G.E., Montgomery, P.A., and Josephson, R.V. (1986) inHuman Lactation 2. Maternal and Environmental Factors (Hamosh, M., and Goldman, A.S., eds.) pp. 231–239, Plenum Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ostrea, E.M., Balun, J.E., Winkler, R., and Porter, T. (1986)Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 154, 1014–1017.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Olson, J.A. (1989)J. Nutr. 119, 105–108.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Ziegler, R.G. (1989)J. Nutr. 119, 116–122.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bendich, A. (1988)Clin. Nutr. 7, 113–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Wald, N.J., Boreham, J., Hayward, J.L., and Bulbrook, R.D. (1984)Br. J. Cancer 49, 321–324.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Liaeen-Jensen, S., and Jensen, A. (1971)Methods Enzymol. 23, 586–602.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Bieri, J.G., Brown, E.D., and Smith, J.C. Jr. (1985)J. Liq. Chromatogr. 8, 473–484.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Peng, Y.M., Beaudry, J., Alberts, D.S. and Davis, T.P. (1983)J. Chromatogr. 273, 410–414.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Horowitz, W., ed. (1975)Official Methods of Analysis of the AOAC, p. 258, Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Craft, N.E., Brown, E.D., and Smith, J.C., Jr. (1988)Clin. Chem. 34, 44–48.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Bachman, K.C., Lin, J-H., and Wilcox, C.J. (1976)J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem. 59, 1146–1149.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Rogan, W.J., Gladen, B.C., McKinney, J.D., Carreras, N., Hardy, P., Thullen, J., Tingelstad, J., and Tully, M. (1986)Am. J. Public Health 76, 172–177.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Campbell, P.G., and Baumrucker, C.R. (1988)J. Endocrinol. 120, 21–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Patton, S., Kelly, J.J., and Keenan, T.W. (1980)Lipids 15, 33–38.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Byers, T., Graham, S., Rzepka, T., and Marshall, J. (1985)Am. J. Epidemiol. 121, 664–674.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. McTiernan, A., and Thomas, D.B. (1986)Am. J. Epidemiol. 124, 353–358.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Yuan, J.-M., Yu, M., Ross, R.K., Gao, Y.-T., and Henderson, B.E. (1988)Cancer Res. 48, 1949–1953.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosciences, M-034J, University of California San Diego, 92093, La Jolla, CA

    Stuart Patton

  2. Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, 92093, La Joila, CA

    Gail E. Huston

  3. Department of Biochemistry, University of Arizona, 85724, Tucson, AZ

    Louise M. Canfield

  4. Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, 06268, Storrs, CT

    Ann M. Ferris & Robert G. Jensen

Authors
  1. Stuart Patton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Louise M. Canfield
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gail E. Huston
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ann M. Ferris
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Robert G. Jensen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Patton, S., Canfield, L.M., Huston, G.E. et al. Carotenoids of human colostrum. Lipids 25, 159–165 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02544331

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02544331

Keywords

Search

Navigation