title: Comparison of the fatty acid composition of transitional and mature milk of mothers who delivered healthy full-term babies, preterm babies and full-term small for gestational age infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The fatty acid (FA) composition of breast milk throughout the period of lactation is fairly well understood. What is not known, however, is the FA composition of breast milk at the interface of physiology and pathology of pregnancy. We therefore decided to analyse and compare the differences in the FA composition of transitional and mature milk of mothers who delivered small for gestational age (SGA) neonates born at term; infants delivered at 35-37 weeks of gestation, that is 'late preterm'; and that of mothers who gave birth to appropriate for gestational age neonates (AGA).
  
  
  METHODS
  The FAs were analysed by HPLC equipped with MS detector.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found differences in the percentage share of the studied FA pool regarding levels of capric, lauric and gadoleic acids. Comparing transitional and mature milk, the greatest diversity was seen in the group of mothers of AGA neonates and the least was noted in the group of mothers of SGA neonates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both 'late prematurity' and reduced neonatal weight of children born at term affect the FA composition of breast milk. Even a small degree of fetal malformation alters the composition of breast milk, which is probably related to the child's needs and condition.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bielsko-Biala, Bielsko-Biała, Poland. rbobinski@ath.bielsko.pl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bobiński
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mikulska
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mojska
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D007774:Lactation; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D009035:Mothers; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids