Lipid content and essential fatty acid (EFA) composition of mature Congolese breast milk are influenced by mothers' nutritional status: impact on infants' EFA supply.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the lipid content and the fatty acid (FA) composition of breast milk as part of a nutritional survey of the essential fatty acid (EFA) status of 5 months old Congolese infants.


METHODS
Cross sectional nutrition survey.


METHODS
A suburban district of Brazzaville (capital of the Congo).


METHODS
A random sample of nursing mothers and their 5 months old infants (n = 102). Data collection procedures: The mothers were questioned on their socio-economic status, dietary habits, and their body mass index (BMI) was measured. Breast milk samples were collected from each mother. Milk lipid content and fatty acid composition were determined.


RESULTS
Compared with milk from various countries, Congolese women's mature breast milk was low in lipid (28.70+/-11.33 g/L) but rich in 8:0-14:0 FAs (25.97+/-8.17% of total FAs) and in polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs), particularly n-3 PUFAs (2.39+/-0.68% of total FAs, mainly 18:3 and 22:6). This was associated with the frequent consumption of high-carbohydrate foods (processed cassava roots, wheat bread, doughnuts) known to enhance 8:0-14:0 FA biosynthesis, and with that of foods providing n-6 and n-3 EFAs such as freshwater and saltwater fish, vegetable oil, green leafy vegetables, and high-fat fruit (peanuts, avocado, bushbutter). These foods were traditionally and locally produced. Milk lipid content was negatively related with mothers' BMI (P < 0.01) and varied with the frequency of consumption of certain foods corresponding to distinct dietary patterns.


CONCLUSIONS
Lipid content and FA composition of Congolese breast milk were dependent on mother's nutritional status. However, despite an adequate EFA composition of breast milk, partially breast-fed 5 months old Congolese infants probably did not get enough n-6 and n-3 EFAs from breast milk to meet their EFA requirements.
Rocquelin
G
G
ORSTOM (Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération), Laboratoire de Nutrition Tropicale, Montpellier, France.
Tapsoba
S
S
Dop
M C
MC
Mbemba
F
F
Traissac
P
P
Martin-Prével
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003223:Congo; D004032:Diet; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000032:analysis; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status
D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008055:Lipids