title: The fatty acid composition of colostrum in three geographic regions of China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the fatty acid composition of human colostrum in three different regions of China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women were recruited from river/lake, coastal and inland regions of China during late pregnancy. Their diet frequency was assessed during the 34th week of pregnancy. Colostrum samples were collected between postpartum days 3 and 5. Thirty-one different fatty acids were separated and identified in colostrum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences among the women in the three regions with respect to food and culinary oil consumption patterns. The mean±SD fat content (g/100 g) of colostrum from river/lake, coastal and inland regions was 2.17±1.26, 2.50±1.39 and 2.68±1.26, respectively (p=0.265, adjusted by pregnant women's age). The main saturated, monounsaturated, n-6 polyunsaturated and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in colostrum were 16:0, 18:1n9, 18:2n6 and 18:3n3, respectively. Colostrum from river/lake region had the lowest composition of total SFA and of total n-6 PUFA and the highest composition of total MUFA and of total n-3 PUFA. The amount of DHA (22:6n3) in colostrum (mean±SD, % wt/wt) was 0.51±0.18, 0.52±0.20 and 0.35±0.13 in the river/lake, coastal and inland regions, respectively (p=0.0002, adjusted by pregnant women's age). Frequency of maternal marine fish intake during the late pregnancy was positively correlated with DHA in colostrum (r=0.203, p=0.040).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fatty acid composition of colostrum differs across geographical regions in China, which may be related to differences in maternal dietary pattern.
authors: National Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Peking, China.
authors: Yi-Xiong
authors: YX
authors: Gao
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Chunrong
authors: C
authors: Wang
authors: Lixiang
authors: L
authors: Li
authors: Qingqing
authors: Q
authors: Man
authors: Pengkun
authors: P
authors: Song
authors: Liping
authors: L
authors: Meng
authors: Ovyind
authors: O
authors: Lie
authors: Livar
authors: L
authors: Frøyland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002681:China; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry*; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods; D015930:Diet Records; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated