title: Effects of bovine pregnancy on the fatty acid composition of milk: the significance for humans needs.
abstract: Milk from 40 Holstein dairy cows was collected from two different farms in Galicia (Spain). The differences in the fatty acid composition of two groups of cows, 20 pregnant and 20 non-pregnant, was studied to determine whether pregnancy status is a determinant factor that can alter the fatty acid profile of milk. Gas-chromatography (GC) coupled to flame ionisation detection (FID) was used for the determination of the fatty acids. Differences in the milk fatty acids between pregnant and non-pregnant cows were pronounced showing statistically significant differences for some fatty acids and the total saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Milk from non-pregnant cows was lower in saturated fatty acids and higher in monounsaturated fatty acids (unlike milk from pregnant cows). The effects of the consumption of bovine milk, particularly milk fat, on human health have been studied in depth and sometimes are associated with negative effects, but milk has also several beneficial characteristics linked to some fatty acids.
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Food Hygiene, Inspection and Control (LHICA), Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology , Universidade de Santiago de Compostela , Lugo , Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barreiro
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Food Hygiene, Inspection and Control (LHICA), Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology , Universidade de Santiago de Compostela , Lugo , Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Regal
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Food Hygiene, Inspection and Control (LHICA), Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology , Universidade de Santiago de Compostela , Lugo , Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Díaz-Bao
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Food Hygiene, Inspection and Control (LHICA), Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology , Universidade de Santiago de Compostela , Lugo , Spain.
authors.forename: B I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Vázquez
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Food Hygiene, Inspection and Control (LHICA), Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology , Universidade de Santiago de Compostela , Lugo , Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cepeda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004032:Diet; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005410:Flame Ionization; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D009753:Nutritive Value; D011247:Pregnancy; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated
keywords: Bovine milk; fatty acids; human health; pregnancy