Zinc Composition in Breast Milk of Lactating Mothers in Urban and Sub-urban Areas in Rivers State
Published: 2021-11-17
Page: 315-319
Issue: 2021 - Volume 4 [Issue 1]
Kalaotaji Glory Biambo *
Department of Nursing, Rivers State University, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Jonathan Nyebuchi
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Emeji Roseline
School of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State College of Health Science and Management, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Amadi Chikadibia Fyneface
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Pamo University of Medical Sciences, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Nwisah Laurretta
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Breast milk includes complex proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and other components that are physiologically active. The composition varies both throughout the lactation period and over a single meal. Zinc is an essential micronutrient of proper development and growth. The aim of this study is to compare breast milk zinc composition between breastfeeding mothers in urban and sub-urban areas in Rivers State. The study was conducted among 59 postpartum subjects between 0 and 10days of child delivery in each group. Sampling was done through a simple random sampling method. Human breast milk was collected using a manual breast pump and analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) for the analysis of zinc concentration. Result revealed that there was a significant difference in zinc level between both groups (p<0.05). This work has shown that zinc composition in breast milk of postpartum women vary based on urban and sub-urban settlements.
Keywords: Breast milk, zinc, urban, sub-urban