[Fatty acid concentration analysis in colostrum and transitional milk].
OBJECTIVE
We have studied the quantitative differences in the percent fatty acid composition of human milk throughout its maturational process.


METHODS
We analyzed milk, obtained by an electrical milk extractor (EGNELL LACT-E AMEDA), from 24 women at 3 days (colostrum) and 7 (transitional milk) after delivery. A Varian 3300 chromatograph was used for fatty acid evaluation. At 48 hours after delivery, the lipid status of the maternal blood was also evaluated.


RESULTS
The mean age of the mothers was 27.4 +/- 3.7 years, with 54% primiparous and the mean weight of the newborns was 3117.5 +/- 678.6 g. Comparing colostrum with transitional milk showed a statistically significant difference between saturated fatty acids (C8, C13, and C15) and polyunsaturated fats (C18:3 and C20:4). The concentration of C13, C15, C17, C18, C16:1 and C18:1 obtained in colostrum correlated with those in transitional milk. Serum maternal lipid concentrations of cholesterol and LDL influenced milk levels of C18:2, C18:3 and C20:4. On the contrary, we could not demonstrate a similar influence on triglycerides, apoprotein A or B.
Domínguez Ortega
F
F
Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Materno-Infantil, Las Palmas.
Santana Reyes
C
C
Reyes Suárez
D
D
Quinteiro González
S
S
Calvo Rosales
J
J
D000328:Adult; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*
D005227:Fatty Acids