The α-tocopherol content of breast milk was measured in 71 mothers of preterm and term infants in China. The mean α-tocopherol content of breast milk was much lower than that reported in developed countries. α-Tocopherol levels were higher in colostrum and then de-creased in the transition milk. Mothers of preterm infants produced colostrum with a slightly higher α-tocopherol content than that of the mothers of term infants. However, α-tocopherol levels in transition milk were similar in both groups.