[Content of essential metals in colostrum of women delivered by cesarean section in early puerperium].

The concentrations of magnesium, iron, copper and zinc were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry in the colostrum of 5 women in puerperium after delivery by Cesarean section. The samples of colostrum were obtained for examination between 11 and 12 hours on puerperium days from 4th to 7th. A significant rise of the concentration between these days was noted only in the case of iron (p less than 0.05). The differences in the levels of other metals over time period were random. The daily supply of these elements with milk to the breast-fed newborn increased evidently in that time period. Statistically significant differences were noted between days 4 and 6 (p less than 0.05) and the successive days (p less than 0.01). The daily supply of magnesium estimated on the 8th day of puerperium was not exceeding 50% of the lower limit of the recommended daily supply of this metal for newborns and infants. The contents of iron and copper in the daily portion of colostrum were at the borderline of the recommended values, and only in the case of zinc they fell within the range of these values.