Fatty acid composition in preterm and term breast milk.
The aim of this study was to determine and compare the fatty acid (FA) composition of colostrum and mature milk produced by nursing mothers of preterm and at-term newborns, in Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. Low contents of Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (0.02%/colostrum and 0.01%/mature milk for preterm and term milk) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (colostrum group: 0.10%/preterm and 0.09%/term; mature milk: 0.05%/preterm and 0.03%/term) were determined. The comparison among the groups showed that the elaidic acid content was significantly higher (1.67%) in mature term milk. The content of rumenic acid (conjugated linoleic acid) was significantly higher in at-term colostrum compared with preterm colostrum. When considering the maturity of the milk, there was a significant increase in the percentage of this FA in the preterm group. The results show that, overall, the greatest differences observed were between the colostrums and mature milks for both groups and not between preterm and at-term mothers.
Santa Catarina Federal University, Florianópolis, Brazil.
Ana Claudia
AC
Berenhauser
Ana Cristina
AC
Pinheiro do Prado
Roberta Claro
RC
da Silva
Luiz Antonio
LA
Gioielli
Jane Mara
JM
Block
D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008745:Methylation; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy
D005227:Fatty Acids