Fatty acid and sn-2 fatty acid composition in human milk from Granada (Spain) and in infant formulas.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate differences in fatty acid and sn-2 fatty acid composition in colostrum, transitional and mature human milk, and in term infant formulas.


METHODS
Departament de Nutrició i Bromatologia, University of Barcelona, Spain and University Hospital of Granada, Spain.


METHODS
One-hundred and twenty mothers and 11 available types of infant formulas for term infants.


METHODS
We analysed the fatty acid composition of colostrum (n=40), transitional milk (n=40), mature milk (n=40) and 11 infant formulas. We also analysed the fatty acid composition at sn-2 position in colostrum (n=12), transitional milk (n=12), mature milk (n=12), and the 11 infant formulas.


RESULTS
Human milk in Spain had low saturated fatty acids, high monounsaturated fatty acids and high linolenic acid. Infant formulas and mature human milk had similar fatty acid composition. In mature milk, palmitic acid was preferentially esterified at the sn-2 position (86.25%), and oleic and linoleic acids were predominantly esterified at the sn-1,3 positions (12.22 and 22.27%, respectively, in the sn-2 position). In infant formulas, palmitic acid was preferentially esterified at the sn-1,3 positions and oleic and linoleic acids had higher percentages at the sn-2 position than they do in human milk.


CONCLUSIONS
Fatty acid composition of human milk in Spain seems to reflect the Mediterranean dietary habits of mothers. Infant formulas resemble the fatty acid profile of human milk, but the distribution of fatty acids at the sn-2 position is markedly different.
López-López
A
A
Departament de Nutrició i Bromatologia, Centre de Referència en Tecnologia dels Aliments (CeRTA), Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
López-Sabater
M C
MC
Campoy-Folgoso
C
C
Rivero-Urgell
M
M
Castellote-Bargalló
A I
AI
D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry*; D004951:Esterification; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D013030:Spain; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000032:analysis
D005227:Fatty Acids; D009829:Oleic Acids; D010169:Palmitic Acids; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid