Table 3.

Percentage change in micronutrient reference values during lactation compared to reference values for non‐pregnant, non‐lactating (NPNL) women (unless otherwise indicated the figure represent an increase from NPNL levels)

Country	Vitamin A	Vitamin B6	Vitamin C	Vitamin D	Vitamin E	Thiamine	Riboflavin	Niacin	Vitamin B12	Folate	Calcium	Phosphorus	Potassium	Sodium	Magnesium	Iodine	Iron	Zinc	Selenium	Copper
Albania	86 (71)	54	33 (28)	*	27	27	45	21	17	25	0 (30)	0 (79)	9	0	3 (16)	93	−50 (−44)	50 (63)	27	44
Belgium	70	11	18	60	0	45	50	14	21	75	33	25	0	0	11	25	−26	75	25	25
Bosnia and Herzegovina	63 (50)	31	58 (50)	100	50 (38)	45	38 (31)	33	30	56	50	50	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Bulgaria	71 (57)	54	*	0	27	*	45	21	17	25	0 (30)	0 (79)	9	0	14	93	−50 (−44)	50 (63)	27	44
Croatia	63	0	100	100	90	0	0	−6	180	150	25	*	*	*	3	93	−36	*	40	13
DACH countries	88	58	50	0	42	40	33	31	33	50	0	29	*	*	30	30	33	43	0	0
Estonia	57	23	33	33	38	55	31	33	30	67	13	50	0	*	0	33	0	57	38	44
France	50	33	18	100	0	64	20	36	17	33	11	13	*	*	8	33	−38	90	20	33
Greece	50	27	56	100	*	22	31	14	36	75	*	73	0	*	*	23	−32	71	40	23
Hungary	50	54	33	100	29	11	31	14	30	42	50	50	0	0	50	33	0	44	25	27
Iceland	57	23	33	0	38	45	31	33	30	25	25	25	0	*	0	33	0	57	38	44
Ireland	58	27	33	100	*	22	31	14	36	33	50	73	0	*	*	23	−7	71	36	27
Italy	58	27	50	100	*	22	31	14	27	75	20	20	0	*	*	33	0	71	27	25
Latvia	30	10	50	100	0	33	25	25	0	0	0	0	0	0	−3	0	0	36	25	0
Lithuania	50	104	67	100	40	*	36	−6	33	60	20	33	0	0	27	33	33	25	*	*
Macedonia – Former YR	50	33	57	100	50	45	250	40	30	50	50	50	*	0	29	33	33	83	0	0
The Netherlands	56	27	57	200	*	55	55	54	36	33	0	*	*	*	27	*	33	140	13	10
Nordic countries	57	23	33	33	38	45	31	33	30	25	13	50	0	*	0	33	0	57	38	44
Poland	86 (71)	54	60 (53)	0	0	36	45	21	17	25	0 (30)	0 (79)	9	0	3 (16)	47 (93)	−44	60 (63)	27	4
Portugal	70	54	56	0	*	36	45	21	17	25	0	*	*	*	23	33	*	*	*	*
Russian Federation	33	28	53	400	50	48	34	4	0	50	50	50	*	*	13	0	*	67	*	*
Slovakia	41	26	59	33	29	27	15	18	30	50	61	25	*	*	11	81	20	45	35	25
Slovenia	88	58	50	0	42	40	33	31	33	50	0	29	*	*	30	30	33	43	0	0
Spain	63	25	42	100	42	22	21	20	30	25	88	0	0	*	36	41	0	67	36	*
UK	58	0	75	*	*	25	45	15	33	30	79	80	0	0	19	0	0	86 (36)	25	25
WHO/FAO	70	54	56	0	*	36	45	21	17	25	0	*	*	*	23	33	*	*	*	–

Values in parentheses indicate percentage change for lactating women aged ≤18 years (Albania, Bulgaria and Poland), or values at different stages of lactation (Bosnia and Herzegovina and the UK). *Unable to calculate percentage increase as either reference value is available but cannot be converted to the standard unit without making assumptions; reference value varies according to bioavailability; reference value is not referred to in the country specific guidelines.