INVESTIGATION OF MACROELEMENT AND MINERAL VALUES IN BREAST MILK IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS POSTPARTUM

Breast milk has the macro- and micro-nutrients required for the growth and development of a baby. There are very few studies that examine the relationship between breast milk mineral content and factors such as the mothers' physical, sociodemographic, and nutritional characteristics. As part of this research, breast milk samples were taken from volunteer mothers (excluding mothers with multiple births and premature births) in the first six months postpartum; pH, dry matter, ash, protein, fat, lactose, energy values and Fe, Ca, Mg, Cu, K, Zn, and Na contents were determined. Breast milk samples were grouped into colostrum milk samples (n=10) and mature milk samples (n=40). It was shown that there is no relationship between mothers' BMI values and breast milk composition. With the findings obtained, it was determined that although the content profiles of breastmilk were variable, they still met the nutritional needs of babies.