Trans fatty acids from milk of Brazilian mothers of premature infants.
OBJECTIVE
The presence of trans fatty acids (TFA) in human milk may be a concern because of their possible adverse nutritional effects on the infant development. TFA may interfere with the metabolism of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA). Marked variation in TFA of milk appears in different populations. No data have yet been reported in Brazil, particularly as regards the milk of mothers of premature infants. Because of the importance of LC-PUFA in infant growth and development, we investigated the fatty acids composition of the milk of Brazilian mothers of premature infants.


METHODS
We analysed, through gas-liquid chromatography, the content of fatty acids of 37 milk samples obtained from mothers delivering prematurely. Samples were collected from colostrum and mature milk of exclusive breastfeeding.


RESULTS
All samples contained trans isomers of C18:1 acid with trans isomers of PUFA in lower proportion. The percentage of TFA (mean +/- SD) in the colostrum was 2.34 +/- 0.75, and 2.19 +/- 0.47 in the mature milk. For the LC-PUFA these values were 0.97 +/- 0.34 in the colostrum and 0.66 +/- 0.25 in the mature milk. The contents of total essential fatty acids and PUFA n-6 were inversely correlated with TFA in colostrum and mature milk. We found a positive correlation between levels of arachidonic acid in mature milk and change in the children's height.


CONCLUSIONS
The study showed that the intake of TFA occupies an intermediate position between the values of North America and European countries, reflecting the ongoing transition to industrialised foods in Brazil.
Tinoco
Sandra Manzato Barboza
SM
Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas/Laboratório de Fisiologia Celular, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Sichieri
Rosely
R
Setta
Cecília Leal
CL
Moura
Anibal Sanchez
AS
do Carmo
Maria das Graças Tavares
Md
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D019301:Oleic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*
D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids; D019301:Oleic Acid