Difference in plasma- and red blood cell-tocopherols in breast-fed and bottle-fed infants.

Abstract

Differences between breast-fed and bottle-fed infants were studied in plasma and red blood cell (RBC) levels and pattern of tocopherol analogs. Tocopherol levels were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In breast-fed infants plasma contained larger amounts of the .alpha.- and smaller amounts of the .gamma.-form of tocopherol than in bottle-fed infants but the RBC contained the .alpha.-form alone. In the bottle-fed infants the plasma contained the .alpha.-, .gamma.- and .delta.-forms but the RBC contained the .alpha.-form alone. In bottle-fed infants plasma .alpha.-tocopherol levels did not differ significantly from those in breast-fed infants but RBC .alpha.-tocopherol levels were lower in the former. Plasma .gamma.-tocopherol levels were significantly higher in bottle-fed infants. Cord blood plasma contained only the .alpha.- and .gamma.-forms with the patterns similar to those in adults. The .delta.-form appeared in the plasma of bottle-fed neonates as early as 3 or 4 days after birth. The transitional-form human milk obtained on the 5th postpartum day contained the .alpha.- and .gamma.-forms and resembled adult plasma. Commercially available formulas contained 4 forms, with the .gamma.-form the highest, .alpha.- and .delta.-forms moderate and slight .beta.