title: Human lactation: oxidation and maternal transfer of dietary (13)C-labelled α-linolenic acid into human milk.
abstract: The origin of fatty acids in milk has not been elucidated in detail. We investigated the contribution of dietary α-linolenic acid (ALA) to human milk fat, its oxidation and endogenous conversion to long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Ten lactating women were given (13)C-ALA orally, and breath and milk samples were collected for a five-day period, while dietary intakes were assessed. 37.5 ± 2.7 % (M ± SE) of the tracer was recovered in breath-CO2, and 7.3 ± 1.1 % was directly transferred into milk. About 0.25 % of the tracer was found in milk long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Combining intake and milk data, we estimate that about 65 % of milk ALA is directly derived from maternal diet. Thus, the major portion of milk ALA is directly derived from the diet, but dietary ALA does not seem to contribute much as a precursor to milk n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids within the studied time period.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine , Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich Medical Center , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Demmelmair
authors.affiliation: a Division of Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine , Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich Medical Center , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.affiliation: a Division of Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine , Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich Medical Center , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dokoupil
authors.affiliation: a Division of Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine , Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich Medical Center , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hegele
authors.affiliation: a Division of Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine , Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich Medical Center , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sauerwald
authors.affiliation: a Division of Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine , Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich Medical Center , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Berthold
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koletzko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D001944:Breath Tests; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D014280:Triglycerides; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: carbon-13; essential fatty acids; human milk; isotope application in medicine; long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids; tracer