Essential minerals in colostrum of preterm and full-term Ghanaian mothers and related maternal factors
Abstract Mineral elements in colostrum play crucial roles in neonatal growth and development. This study assessed the concentrations of ten essential mineral elements in the colostrum of moderately preterm and full-term mothers in Ghana, and examined their associations with maternal characteristics....
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15815-x |
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| author | Justice Wiston Amstrong Jonathan Daniel Elorm Kwame Kabotso David Kofi Essumang John Kwesi Bentum Jesse Azebiik Anak Innocentia Ruby Gborgblorvor Emmanuel Kormla Danyo Hintermann Mbroh John Tampuori Richard Harry Asmah |
| author_facet | Justice Wiston Amstrong Jonathan Daniel Elorm Kwame Kabotso David Kofi Essumang John Kwesi Bentum Jesse Azebiik Anak Innocentia Ruby Gborgblorvor Emmanuel Kormla Danyo Hintermann Mbroh John Tampuori Richard Harry Asmah |
| author_sort | Justice Wiston Amstrong Jonathan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Mineral elements in colostrum play crucial roles in neonatal growth and development. This study assessed the concentrations of ten essential mineral elements in the colostrum of moderately preterm and full-term mothers in Ghana, and examined their associations with maternal characteristics. A total of 47 mothers provided single 12 mL colostrum samples collected between postpartum days 1 to 4 using standardized, aseptic manual expression procedures. The samples were digested and analyzed using ICP-OES. Statistical analyses included tests for normality, Spearman correlation, and group comparisons using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. The concentrations ranged from 0.1 ± 0.0 mg/L (Se) to 602.6 ± 77.6 mg/L (K). Significant positive correlations were observed among several mineral pairs. Notably, potassium levels were significantly associated with maternal employment status (p = 0.047), and zinc levels were significantly related to maternal parity (p = 0.028). Although differences between preterm and full-term samples were not statistically significant, preterm colostrum showed trends of higher zinc and potassium concentrations. Compared to global data, the Ghanaian samples exhibited relatively elevated levels of phosphorus, sodium, and selenium. These findings provide foundational data on early breast milk composition in Ghana and highlight maternal and gestational factors that may influence neonatal mineral intake. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8bf6d16d244447d2aedf4954ea9fc7ae |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-8bf6d16d244447d2aedf4954ea9fc7ae2025-08-20T03:47:12ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-15815-xEssential minerals in colostrum of preterm and full-term Ghanaian mothers and related maternal factorsJustice Wiston Amstrong Jonathan0Daniel Elorm Kwame Kabotso1David Kofi Essumang2John Kwesi Bentum3Jesse Azebiik Anak4Innocentia Ruby Gborgblorvor5Emmanuel Kormla Danyo6Hintermann Mbroh7John Tampuori8Richard Harry Asmah9School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Basic Sciences, University of Health and Allied SciencesSchool of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Basic Sciences, University of Health and Allied SciencesSchool of Physical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, University of CapeSchool of Physical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, University of CapeDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Cape CoastHo Teaching HospitalInstitute of Chemical Engineering, Department of Technologies for Organic Synthesis, Ural Federal UniversityHo Teaching HospitalHo Teaching HospitalSchool of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Basic Sciences, University of Health and Allied SciencesAbstract Mineral elements in colostrum play crucial roles in neonatal growth and development. This study assessed the concentrations of ten essential mineral elements in the colostrum of moderately preterm and full-term mothers in Ghana, and examined their associations with maternal characteristics. A total of 47 mothers provided single 12 mL colostrum samples collected between postpartum days 1 to 4 using standardized, aseptic manual expression procedures. The samples were digested and analyzed using ICP-OES. Statistical analyses included tests for normality, Spearman correlation, and group comparisons using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. The concentrations ranged from 0.1 ± 0.0 mg/L (Se) to 602.6 ± 77.6 mg/L (K). Significant positive correlations were observed among several mineral pairs. Notably, potassium levels were significantly associated with maternal employment status (p = 0.047), and zinc levels were significantly related to maternal parity (p = 0.028). Although differences between preterm and full-term samples were not statistically significant, preterm colostrum showed trends of higher zinc and potassium concentrations. Compared to global data, the Ghanaian samples exhibited relatively elevated levels of phosphorus, sodium, and selenium. These findings provide foundational data on early breast milk composition in Ghana and highlight maternal and gestational factors that may influence neonatal mineral intake.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15815-xEssential mineral elementsColostrumBreast milkBreastfeedingLactation |
| spellingShingle | Justice Wiston Amstrong Jonathan Daniel Elorm Kwame Kabotso David Kofi Essumang John Kwesi Bentum Jesse Azebiik Anak Innocentia Ruby Gborgblorvor Emmanuel Kormla Danyo Hintermann Mbroh John Tampuori Richard Harry Asmah Essential minerals in colostrum of preterm and full-term Ghanaian mothers and related maternal factors Scientific Reports Essential mineral elements Colostrum Breast milk Breastfeeding Lactation |
| title | Essential minerals in colostrum of preterm and full-term Ghanaian mothers and related maternal factors |
| title_full | Essential minerals in colostrum of preterm and full-term Ghanaian mothers and related maternal factors |
| title_fullStr | Essential minerals in colostrum of preterm and full-term Ghanaian mothers and related maternal factors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Essential minerals in colostrum of preterm and full-term Ghanaian mothers and related maternal factors |
| title_short | Essential minerals in colostrum of preterm and full-term Ghanaian mothers and related maternal factors |
| title_sort | essential minerals in colostrum of preterm and full term ghanaian mothers and related maternal factors |
| topic | Essential mineral elements Colostrum Breast milk Breastfeeding Lactation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15815-x |
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