Estimation of antioxidant power of human milk from lactating mothers of Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Human milk supplies all the nutrition and energy that supports the overall development of neonate. It has essential and predominant antioxidant capacity which has a capability to protect infant against all diseases. Present investigation is to analyze the antioxidant power and free radical scavenging activity status in human milk from lactating mothers in the initial period of lactation. Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay and 1, 1-diphenyl- 2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical method were used for this analysis. In colostrum it was remarkably high level of antioxidant capacity and radical scavenging activity than transitional and mature milks. This study showed the significance of breast milk during the initial days of life and the importance of colostrum milk for neonates.