Composition of the mother ’ s milk III . Macro and micro element contents . A review

The authors have analysed macro and micro element contents of the mother’s colostrum and mother’s milk in comparison with the newest publications. Calcium contents of the mother’s milk varied in most of the studies between 84 and 462, while phosphorus contents varied from 17 and 278 mg/dm. The amount of both calcium and phosphorus increased during lactation, but none of these elements was affected by calcium and phosphorus level of the serum, the vitamin supply, age and smoking. Average magnesium concentration of the mother’s milk is 30 mg/dm, which is not affected by age, vitamin D supply, lactation and diabetes, and even the magnesium supply increases the first day only the magnesium contents of the milk. Sodium contents of the colostrum decreases from 400 mg/dm to 150mg/dm, potassium contents from 600–700 mg/dm to 400–550 mg/dm, chloride contents from 600–800mg/dm to 400–500 mg/dm in the mature milk. Some of the micro elements occur bonded in protein in the milk, which increase the efficiency of the absorption. Iron contents of mother’s