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Studies on Carotenoid Metabolism

V. The Effect of a High Vitamin A Intake on the Composition of Human Milk¹

Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition and the Department of Obstetrics, University of Southern California Medical School, Los Angeles

1. The average amount of vitamin A in the milk of women receiving no supplementary vitamin A was 331 I.U. per 100 ml. for the 2- to 10-day period, 232 I.U. for the samples collected between the eleventh and thirtieth days, 171 I.U. for the 31- to 60-day samples and 216 I.U. for the samples collected after 2 months.

2. The administration of vitamin A in amounts of 50,000 I.U. daily starting with the sixth month of pregnancy caused a statistically significant increase in the early milk but the significant difference was not maintained in the later periods; after 100,000 I.U. the vitamin A was doubled and the increase was obtained throughout. After the ingestion of 200,000 I.U. per day the values were over three times the level in the unsupplemented group.

3. The maximum level obtained was 2160 I.U. per 100 ml. during the 2- to 10-day period following parturition in the group receiving 200,000 I.U. daily.

4. No changes were noted in protein, fat or ash content or total solids by supplementation with vitamin A. Protein and ash decreased progressively and fat increased as the lactation cycle proceeded.

5. No depression in carotene excretion similar to that previously noted in cows and in chickens concomitantly with the administration of large doses of vitamin A was noted in the present tests.

6. There is no evidence of a deleterious effect caused by the continued administration of the large dosages of vitamin A, employed in the present tests, to women during the last trimester of pregnancy and during the lactation period. On the other hand, these data should not be interpreted to mean that the feeding of large doses of vitamin A to pregnant and lactating women is either necessary or desirable.

Manuscript received 9 November 1944.