trans Octadecenoic acid and trans octadecadienoic acid are inversely related to long-chain polyunsaturates in human milk: results of a large birth cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Several observational studies indicate that trans isomeric fatty acids may interfere with the metabolism of essential fatty acids in the human organism.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to investigate the relation between trans fatty acids and long-chain polyunsaturates in mature human milk.


METHODS
Human milk samples (n=769) were obtained at the 6th week of lactation from mothers participating in a birth cohort study in Germany. The fatty acid composition of the milk samples was measured by high-resolution capillary gas-liquid chromatography.


RESULTS
trans Octadecenoic and trans octadecadienoic acids were inversely correlated with linoleic acid (r=-0.32 and -0.33, P<0.0001 for both), alpha-linolenic acid (r=-0.35 and -0.27, P<0.0001), arachidonic acid (r=-0.60 and -0.47, P<0.0001), and docosahexaenoic acid (r=-0.51 and -0.33, P<0.0001). In contrast, no inverse correlations were observed between trans hexadecenoic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids.


CONCLUSIONS
The data obtained in the present study suggest that the availability of 18-carbon trans isomeric fatty acids may be inversely related to the availability of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in mature human milk.
Szabó
Eva
E
Department of Paediatrics, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
Boehm
Günther
G
Beermann
Christopher
C
Weyermann
Maria
M
Brenner
Hermann
H
Rothenbacher
Dietrich
D
Decsi
Tamás
T
D000328:Adult; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000032:analysis; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000032:analysis; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007536:Isomerism; D008042:Linolenic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D013229:Stearic Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000032:analysis
C114874:5-octadecenoic acid; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008042:Linolenic Acids; D013229:Stearic Acids; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; C027369:octadecadienoic acid