Chloroquine in Human Milk

Abstract

Simultaneous milk and saliva samples were collected over a seven-day period from five lactating subjects after they had ingested two tablets of chloroquine sulfate (300 mg base). The samples were analyzed for chloroquine content by use of a combination of thin-layer chromatography and spectrophotometry. Regression analysis of two variables subject to error was used to determine the milk:saliva levels relationship. The Student's t test for paired data at .05 level of significance was used to evaluate the relationship between chloroquine levels in milk and saliva. The milk:saliva chloroquine concentrations ratio obtained by regression analysis was 0.89 ± 0.08 (r = .93; P < .05), and this compared favorably with the value of 0.99 ± 0.07 obtained from the ratio of the AUC. There were no significant differences in the T_max, C_max, AUC, clearance, and elimination half-life values of chloroquine in milk and saliva (P > .05). Milk and saliva appear to be part of the central compartment. The amount of chloroquine estimated to be consumed by a nursling over a 24-hour period is about 0.55% of a 300-mg dose consumed by the mother. The data suggest that milk chloroquine levels can be estimated from saliva levels.