Breast-milk calcium and phosphorus concentrations of mothers in rural Zaire.

The breast-milk calcium and phosphorus concentrations of 12 mothers living in a poor, rural area of Zaïre have been measured serially over 18 months of lactation. Calcium concentrations remained steady for the first 3-4 months and then decreased by approximately 27%. Phosphorus concentrations decreased by an average of 16% during the first 6 months and then reached a low plateau. The calcium:phosphorus ratio decreased from 1.7 in early lactation to 1.3 after 15 months. A wide range of mineral concentrations was observed between individuals in Zaïre and the differences between mothers were maintained throughout lactation. No influence of maternal nutritional status, age or parity on breast-milk mineral concentrations was observed. Comparison of the results of this study with published data from Britain and The Gambia obtained in the same laboratory demonstrated that breast-milk calcium concentrations in Zaïre resembled Gambian values in being significantly lower than those in Britain by 15%-20%. In contrast, breast-milk phosphorus concentrations in Zaïre were similar to those in Britain and were lower than those in The Gambia. This pattern of mineral composition resulted in Ca:P ratios in Zaïre that were intermediate in value between those of British and Gambian breast-milk. More information is required about the factors which determine calcium and phosphorus secretion into breast-milk.