title: A metabolomic study of preterm human and formula milk by high resolution NMR and GC/MS analysis: preliminary results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate the metabolic profile of preterm human breast milk (HBM) by using a metabolomic approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  NMR spectroscopy and GC/MS were used to analyze the water-soluble and lipid fractions extracted from milk samples obtained from mothers giving birth at 26-36 weeks of gestation. For the sake of comparison, preterm formula milk was also studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The multivariate statistical analysis of the data evidenced biochemical variability both between preterm HBM and commercial milk and within the group of HBM samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The preliminary results of this study suggest that metabolomics may provide a promising tool to study aspects related to the nutrition and health of preterm infant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Geological Science, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. flaminia@unica.it
authors.forename: Flaminia Cesare
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Marincola
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noto
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caboni
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reali
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barberini
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lussu
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Murgia
authors.forename: Maria Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Santoru
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Atzori
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fanos
mesh_terms: D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000737:chemistry*; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D007785:Lactose / Q000032:analysis; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D055432:Metabolomics / Q000379:methods*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D019301:Oleic Acid / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D005227:Fatty Acids; D019301:Oleic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D007785:Lactose