Clinical and epidemiological determinants of sodium and potassium levels in the colostrum of nursing mothers with and without hypertension in Brazil

This study aimed to determine whether maternal hypertension and other clinical and epidemiological determinants have an impact on sodium and potassium levels in the 48-hour colostrum of breastfeeding mothers. The study included 105 randomly selected breastfeeding mothers, of whom 72 (68.8%) had normal blood pressure and 33 (31.4%) were hypertensive. Colostrum was collected in-hospital in the morning, and sodium and potassium concentrations were measured using a flame photometer. When sodium and potassium concentrations were compared to the variables age, parity, family history of hypertension, gestational age, birth weight, and socioeconomic factors, colostrum potassium level was associated with maternal age. Average sodium and potassium levels in 48-hour colostrum non-hypertensive and hypertensive breastfeeding mothers showed no significant differences. Thus, breastfeeding by hypertensive mothers probably does not increase the risk of their children developing hypertension in adulthood.