Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to E Roekens.
Longitudinal changes of the trace element (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Mo, Cr, Co, As, Se) composition of human milk are discussed. The mean daily intake of breast fed infants is compared with the intake of infants fed cow's milk and with recommended dietary allowances. Parameters which can be used to check the selenium status are discussed. Clinical consequences of selenium deficiency are discussed.
The selenium content of commercial infant formulae, processed milk and beikost was measured by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry after previous wet acid digestion. The median daily intake by infants (1-6 months) fed milk, soya or cereal-based infant formulae was 3.0-7.8 micrograms/day; lower than the mean daily intake by Belgian breast-fed infants (6.1-8.6 micrograms/day) and cow's milk bottle-fed infants (7.6-10.8 micrograms/day).
The selenium content of expressed human milk obtained at different stages of lactation from 32 lactating mothers was measured by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry after previous wet acid digestion. The highest selenium level was found in colostrum (14.8 ng/g; wet weight), subsequently the content declined and plateaued off after one month (9.4 ng/g; wet weight). The daily selenium intake for Belgian infants of 3 months of age was found to be 7.1 micrograms (girls) and 8.1 micrograms (boys), which is lower than the values obtained in most other countries and lower than the recommended safe and adequate daily intake of 10 to 40 micrograms/day for the same age group.