Vitamin K in preterm breastmilk with maternal supplementation

Six healthy lactating mothers who gave birth to preterm infants at a median post conceptional age of 29.5 (range 26-30) weeks were given 2.5 mg phylloquinone (vitamin K1) orally daily for 2 weeks beginning at a median postconceptional age of 31.5 (range 28–32) weeks. Phylloquinone was measured in the breastmilk daily for 14 d. Trough plasma phylloquinone concentrations were also determined on four occasions. Phylloquinone levels in the breastmilk increased from a baseline of 3 ± 2.3ngml^-1 to 22.6 ± 16.3 ng ml^-1 (mean ± SD) after the first dose ( p < 0:05); a gradual increase was noted until phylloquinone levels reached a plateau of 64.2 ± 31.4ng ml^-1 after the sixth daily dose.