Determination of Some Macro and Micro Elements in Breast Milk in Tokat, Turkey and Comparison with the Values of Other Countries

In this study, the concentrations of trace metals (iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn)) and major nutrients (calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) and potassium (K)) in breast milk taken from 32 different volunteer mothers in Tokat, Turkey. The samples were subjected to microwave-assisted acid digestion prior to atomic absorption spectrometry analysis. Average values of concentrations (mg/L) of investigated metals; iron, copper, zinc, calcium, sodium, magnesium, and potassium were found to be 0.92, 0.173, 1.34, 167.8, 165.06, 36.42, 511.68, respectively in studied breast milk samples. Also, these values were compared with other results which getting from related articles, from 14 different countries. Among these results, the highest value for Fe belongs to Namibia, for Cu and Zn are belongs to Austria. The trace element values obtained from breast milk samples collected in this study were compared with literature data, Fe has the third high value, while Cu and Zn were found to be eleventh. Moreover, the results of the main nutrients obtained from the samples collected in this study were compared with the literature data of the other 2 different countries. According to this comparison, the values obtained in our study for Mg and K are the highest values. However, this comparison shows that the Na value is second and the Ca value is the smallest. The determined values of the metals examined in our study are among the recommended tolerable levels of these elements