PHYSIOLOGICAL DEMAND FOR VITAMINS IN LACTATING WOMEN AND ITS FULFILLMENT

Аннотация

This article provides information on the demand for vitamins and their fulfillment in lactating women living in rural areas of the Kashkadarya region. The results obtained show that the provision of vitamins in lactating women aged 18-29 years in this region is 56.7 ± 3.0 mg (vitamin C), 1.3 ± 0.3 mg (vitamin A), 18.8 ± 0.8 mg (vitamin E), 2 ± 0.2 mcg (vitamin D), 2.1 ± 0.4 mg (vitamin B1), 1.4 ± 0.1 mg (vitamin B2), 2.2 ± 0.2 mg (vitamin B6), 14.9 ± 0.7 mg (vitamin PP), and 2.1 ± 0.2 mcg (vitamin B12). The identified situation indicates the presence of imbalances in the nutrition and vitamin supply of lactating women living in rural areas of the Kashkadarya region, which is one of the southern regions of our republic. It highlights the necessity of conducting extensive research on this issue in various regions of our country. Keywords: lactation period, lactating women, actual nutrition, fat-soluble vitamins, water-soluble vitamins, macronutrients, micronutrients, daily diet. INTRODUCTION. The lactation period is a crucial stage for both the health of the lactating mother and the development of the infant. During this period, the mother's body must not only meet its own needs but also provide all the necessary nutrients to the infant through breast milk. Therefore, sufficient intake of vitamins and minerals is essential for the health of lactating mothers [2, 4]. During breastfeeding, a woman's body expends significant energy for milk production. A deficiency of essential nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, in the daily diet can lead to fatigue, decreased immunity, hair loss, and bone weakness. The vitamins in breast milk are necessary for the proper growth and strengthening of the infant's immune system. If an adequate amount of vitamins is not received through milk, various developmental problems may arise in the infant [1, 13]. Statistical data indicate that 45% of child mortality worldwide is linked to inadequate nutrition. Most maternal and child health issues related to 185 ACADEMIC RESEARCH IN MODERN SCIENCE International scientific-online conference malnutrition occur in low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Consequently, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding up to the age of two years [1, 2, 3]. Numerous studies conducted in various countries worldwide have demonstrated that the nutritional status of the mother during lactation affects the concentration of nutrients in breast milk [4, 5]. The quantity and quality of breast milk are primary factors ensuring the normal morphological and physiological development of the child. Since scientific data on the nutritional status of lactating women in our country are insufficient, studying the actual nutrition and vitamin provision of lactating women in different regions and developing appropriate recommendations are urgent issues. Considering these factors, we aimed to study and assess the vitamin supply of lactating women living in rural areas of Guzar district, Kashkadarya region, in southern Uzbekistan. METHODS. The study was conducted on 46 lactating women aged 18-29 years residing in Guzar district, Kashkadarya region. Their actual nutrition was assessed using a traditional questionnaire-survey method. The participants recorded all food products consumed within a week in a specially designed survey. The vitamin content of the recorded food items was analyzed using special tables that provide the chemical composition of food products [7]. Data obtained from the questionnaires were mathematically calculated and statistically processed using Windows Microsoft Excel. The results were compared with standard norms [6]. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. During our observations, we analyzed the daily diet of lactating women and determined the vitamin content of their daily food intake. The following table presents the findings on the vitamin provision of lactating women aged 18-29 years residing in rural areas of Guzar district. The amount of vitamins in the daily diet of breastfeeding women (n=46) Condition Vitamins Norm Result relative to the norm, % Vitamin C (mg) 80 56,7 ± 3,0 70,8% Vitamin A (mg) 0,8 1,3 ± 0,3 162,5 Vitamin E (mg) 15 18,8 ± 0,8 125,3 Vitamin D (mcg) 7,5 2 ± 0,2 26,6 186 ACADEMIC RESEARCH IN MODERN SCIENCE International scientific-online conference Vitamin B (mg) 1,5 2,1 ± 0,4 140 1 Vitamin В (mg) 1,5 1,4 ± 0,1 93,3% 2 Vitamin В (mg) 2 2,2 ± 0,2 110% 6 Vitamin РР (mg) 17 14,9 ± 0,7 87,6% Vitamin В (mcg) 2,6 2,1 ± 0,2 80,7% 12 As shown in the table, the daily diet of lactating women in Guzar district contains lower-than-normal levels of vitamins C, PP, and B12, with deficiencies of 29.2%, 12.4%, and 19.3%, respectively. Additionally, there is a severe deficiency of vitamin D, with an intake 73.4% lower than the standard requirement. Conversely, the intake of vitamins A, E, and B1 exceeded the norm by 62.5%, 25.3%, and 40%, re