By: Djoko Kartono
Center for Research and Development of Nutrition and Food, NIHRD
Created: 1998
Deficiency in vitamin B complex during lactating period results in low level of the vitamins in the breast milk. In severe deficiency it can cause biochemical changes lead to development and growth retardation especially among exclusively breast feeding infant.
A study was conducted in sub district Ciomas, district of Bogor amongst 73 lactating mothers of 0 - 5 months infant. They were grouped into treatment group (39) and control group (34).
The treatment group received vitamin B complex contained 6 mg of vitamin B1, 6.5 mcg of vitamin B12 and 500 mcg of folic acid every day for three months and no intervention for control group. The dosage was five times higher than the recommended allowance for vitamin B1 and vitamin B12 and just in the recommended level for folic acid for lactating mothers of 0 -6 month old infant.
The aimed of this study was to know its effect on the breast milk composition, nutritional status and food consumption pattern of the mothers and their infant. There was no significant improvement in the level of vitamin B1, B12 and folic acid as the effect of the intervention. The level of vitamin B1 in the breast milk was adequate for the infant based on the recommended allowance level for lactating mothers of 0 - 4 months exclusive breast feeding infant but not for vitamin B12 and folic acid. These result suggest either the dose is too low or the duration of supplementation too short.
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Copyright © 2001 by Badan Litbang Kesehatan.
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