Total antioxidant potential and essential trace metals in the breast milk and plasma of Nigerian human immunodeficiency virus-infected lactating mothers

Background: The effect of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) on the immune system is well documented however; its impact on the nutritional and immunological qualities of the breast milk is scarce. Aim: Levels of some essential trace metals, albumin and antioxidant status in the plasma and breast milk of Nigerian HIV-infected lactating mothers were determined. Materials and Methods: Essential trace metals and total antioxidant potential were measured using spectrophotometric method while albumin was measured using single radial immunodiffusion technique. Results: Only the mean plasma level of albumin in HIV infected lactating mothers (HIM) was significantly reduced when compared with HIV free lactating mothers (HFM) [9.39 (4.46) g/L vs 26.18 (18.43) g/L, P=0.000], others had no significant difference. The mean breast milk levels of total antioxidant potential (1776.82(564.26) mu molTE/L vs. 2384.67 (679.00) mu molTE/L, P = 0.0000), Cu [67.68 (5.04) mu g/dL vs. 71.10 (5.45) mu g/dL, P = 0.033] and Fe [66.21 (6.31) mu g/dL vs. 71.20 (6.48) mu g/dL, P = 0.011] were significantly reduced in HIM compared with HFM. No significant differences were observed in other parameters. Conclusion: It could be concluded from this study that hypoalbuminemia is a feature of HIV-infected lactating mothers and that breast milk of HIM has low antioxidant capacity.