Breast Milk Retinol Concentration Improvement with B-carotene or Vitamin A in Lactating Filipino Women

This study focuses on lactating Filipino women and explores the impact of small daily doses of B-carotene or Vitamin A on the concentration of retinol, a form of Vitamin A, in breast milk. The main goal is to understand if this supplementation can increase the retinol levels in breast milk. This research is important as it could potentially improve the vitamin A status of lactating women, which is crucial for both the mother's and infant's health. During this study, participants receive either B-carotene or retinyl palmitate, a type of Vitamin A, as a supplement six days a week for three weeks. The dosage is approximately 600 ug RAE per day. The study measures the concentration of retinol in breast milk at the beginning and after the three-week supplementation period. This helps to evaluate if the supplementation is effective in increasing the retinol levels. The study also assesses different methods for collecting breast milk samples in a community setting.