A comparative study of trace elements in human, animal and commercial milk samples in Erbil, Iraq

Abstract

Human milk is the first food human encounter and it serves as the sole source of all
nutrients required for the biological functions and growth during the early stages of life.
Trace elements contents are therefore of importance from nutritional point of view.
Moreover, accurate data on the concentrations of trace elements in human milk
throughout early lactation are important for developing milk formula substitutes. Raw
milk as it comes from cow is the natural substitute to human milk for infant feeding.
However, overdose of these mineral constituents can be harmful. This study was
directed to measure the concentrations of Zinc (Zn), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr),
Copper (Cu) cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in human, animal,
commercial fresh cow milk samples available in Erbil city. A total of 30 human milk
samples, 10 animal milk samples (cow and goat) and 27 commercial fresh cow milk
samples were analyzed after wet digestion for the eight trace elements using Atomic
Absorption Spectrometer. The mean values of contents (in ppb) of these elements in
breast milk obtained from mothers 1~3 days postpartum were 2.47, 6.56, 18.93, 5.04,
564.29, 1163.47, 302.15 and 6.94, respectively. While those in animal milk were 3.375,
7.75, 14.5, 28, 300.5, 1012.5, 183 and 4.23, respectively. And those in commercial fresh
cow milk were 4.51, 9.044, 19.55, 17.65, 395.09, 841.211, 35.72 and 6.95, respectively.
The mean concentrations of these elements in breast milk comparable with values of
WHO/IAEA study.