From Hale, Medications and Mothers Milk, 2002, pg 732:

"Vit E is secreted in milk in higher concentrations than in maternal serum.
Following topical administration to nipples (400 IU/feeding) Vit E plasma
levels in breastfeeding infants was 40% higher than controls in just 6 days.
Studies clearly indicate that high levels of Vit E are stored in the liver
and tend to accumulate over time.  In 1984, over 36 neonates receiving
vitamin E in neonatal intensive care units died following the IB
administration of just 25-50 IU/day for several weeks.  Do not apply to
nipples unless concentrations are low (<50-100 IU). and then only
infrequently.  The application of pure vitamin E oil (1000 IU/gm) to nipples
should be discouraged."

The section regarding Vit A makes the point (pg 729) that:  "[Vit A is]
primarily sequestered in high concentrations in the liver...The overdose of
Vitamin A is extremely dangerous..."

Most non-healing cracked nipples are best treated with antibiotics or
referred to a dermatologist for tx for combination infections.  If you take
a powerful drug like diflucan for weeks and you can't get the nipples
healed, there's something else going on.  It may be as simple as constant
re-traumatization, but the persistence of open wounds perpetuates the risk
of constant reinfection from oral pathogens, or germs from the hands, or
environment.

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates
LactNews Press
www.lactnews.com

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html