title: Human milk fatty acids from lactating mothers of preterm infants: a study revealing wide intra- and inter-individual variation.
abstract: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) are important nutrients in the preterm diet and fixed ratios have been proposed for formula. We evaluated the intra- and inter-individual variation in milk fatty acids from mothers of preterm infants involved in a randomised trial of tuna oil or placebo supplementation. Milk samples were collected every 2 weeks while infants were hospitalised and fatty acids analysed by capillary gas chromatography. DHA was higher in milk of supplemented mothers than control (% total fatty acids, mean+/-SD, treatment 0.9+/-0.4, control 0.3+/-0.1, p<0.0005) and ranged between 0.3-2.5% and 0.1-1.1%, respectively. AA did not differ between groups and ranged between 0.2-0.9% and 0.3-0.9%, respectively. Control mothers milk had wider AA:DHA ratio than treatment mothers (0.4-3.2 versus 0.2-2.1). Due to the wide variation in milk AA and DHA, statements recommending infant formula based on a fixed AA:DHA ratio should be re-examined.
authors.affiliation: Women's and Children's Health Research Institute, at the Children, Youth and Women's Health Service, North Adelaide and the Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, Australia.
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Smithers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Markrides
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Gibson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000378:metabolism*; D014413:Tuna
chemical_list: D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid