Fatty acid profile of human milk of Portuguese lactating women: Prospective study from the 1st to the 16th week of lactation

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2008

Authors

Ribeiro, M (Author) Other; Balcao, V (Author) Other; Guimaraes, H (Author) FMUP; Rocha, G (Author) Other; Moutinho, C (Author) Other; Matos, C (Author) Other; Almeida, C (Author) Other; Casal, S (Author) FFUP; Guerra, A (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism

Vol. 53

Pages: 50-56

ISSN: 0250-6807

Publisher: Karger

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 30 Citations

Scopus - 32 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-004-2HB

DOI: 10.1159/000156597

Abstract (EN): Background/Aims: Fatty acid ( FA) composition varies over the course of the day and during lactation. The aim of this study was to evaluate FA composition and its compositional stability in human milk, from day 7 to week 16 of lactation. Methods: Human milk was collected from all feedings over 24 h at day 7 and weeks 4, 8, 12 and 16 of lactation in 31 lactating women. FAs were analyzed through gas chromatography. Comparisons were made with analysis of variance. Results: Total monounsaturated FAs decreased from 33.04 +/- 8 2.58% wt/wt at day 7 to 31.48 +/- 8 3.32% wt/wt at week 16 of lactation, much at the expenses of the decrease in the major monounsaturated FA found in human milk, oleic acid. Main polyunsaturated FAs n-6 and n-3 showed fluctuations from day 7 up to week 16 of lactation, but with no statistical significance. Arachidonic acid significantly decreased from transitional to mature milk. Conclusions: The FA profile obtained throughout the study time points presented very low levels of oleic acid and very high linoleic acid/alpha-linoleic acid ratios which reflect recent changes in Portuguese women's food patterns. Despite this, the ascorbate/dehydroascorbate ratio remained constant during the study, suggesting a protective metabolic mechanism. Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7