# Composition and Antioxidant Status of Vegan Milk—Pilot Study

## TL;DR

This study compares the milk composition and antioxidant levels of vegan and omnivorous breastfeeding women, finding differences in nutrients and stress indicators.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the nutritional and antioxidant differences in breast milk between vegan and omnivorous women.

## Key findings

- Vegan women's milk had higher cortisol and lower iron, vitamin B6, and antioxidant status.
- Vegan mothers were younger, with lower BMI and WHR compared to omnivorous mothers.
- Lack of supplementation in vegan diets may lead to deficiencies in breast milk.

## Abstract

Background: More and more women are following a vegan and vegetarian diet. For some, the use of a vegan diet during lactation is controversial. Purpose: The aim of the study was to comparatively analyze the concentration of selected hormones, micro- and macronutrients, vitamins, and the basic composition and antioxidant status of the milk of vegan women, compared to the milk of omnivorous women. Methods: The study included 17 breastfeeding vegan women and 27 omnivorous women. The basic composition of human milk was analyzed using the MIRIS HMATM analyzer (Uppsala, Sweden) The levels of hormones and vitamins were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent method. In order to determine the antioxidant activity and micro- and macroelements, spectrophotometric methods were used. Results: The vegan group was characterized by a lower average age, lower BMI, and lower WHR index compared to the control group. The milk of vegan women showed significantly higher cortisol concentrations and lower iron, vitamin B6, and antioxidant status than the milk of omnivorous women. Conclusions: A vegan diet helps maintain a healthy body weight and is more popular among younger women, under 30 years of age. Higher levels of milk cortisol in vegan women may indicate a high level of anxiety and stress experienced by breastfeeding women, which may have negative consequences not only for breastfeeding mothers but also for the development of their children. Lack of appropriate supplementation in women who do not consume meat and animal products may cause a deficiency of micro- and macroelements in breast milk.