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milk fat Background: Maternal vitamin A and iron status was investigated among lactating mothers in a rural commu-nity in Kenya. The aim of the study was to establish the prevalence and the relationship of these key nutrients to maternal body composition. Methods: Eighty-eight mothers provided samples of breast milk and blood for determination of breast milk vitamin A, serum retinol and ferritin. Estimators of body composition were based on the mother’s weight, height and skinfold measure-ments. Results: A total of 78.1 % women had breast milk retinol!1.05 Ìmol/l with 38 and 62 % having lactated for a period of!4 and 14 months, respectively. Prevalence of severely deficient serum retinol!0.35 Ìmol/l and ferri