ABSTRACT
Lactation is one of the most nutritionally demanding periods of a woman's life, when her nutritional requirements increase beyond both prepregnant and pregnant levels in order to support newborn and infant growth and development, and to maintain her own metabolic needs. Copper and selenium are essential trace minerals, and the requirements for both are increased during lactation. Although the energy and nutrients stored during pregnancy are available to support milk production, there are undoubted increases in requirements for a broad range of nutrients during lactation. In areas where micronutrient deficiency is prevalent, milk composition may be affected by marginal maternal deficiencies in fatty acids, iodine, and most vitamins. Recent research has found that the nutrient composition of the breast milk of exclusively breast feeding mothers is more calorific with a higher percentage fat content, and lower percentage protein and percentage carbohydrate content than the milk of mixed feeding mothers.
