Triglycerides, fatty acids, sterols, mono- and disaccharides and sugar alcohols in human milk and current types of infant formula milk.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate differences in the fatty acid composition, sterols, minor carbohydrates and sugar alcohols between human and formula milk. DESIGN: We analyzed the concentrations of triglycerides, sterols, di- and monosaccharides and sugar alcohols, as well as the fatty acid composition of 10 currently available types of formula milk for term babies. Results were compared with mature human milk from 99 exclusively breast-feeding Dutch women, who collected 24-hour samples in the second week (n = 99), sixth week (n = 99) and 3 months (n = 25) after delivery. Infant formula milk data were considered different if they fell outside the mean +/- 2s.d. range of corresponding human milk data. RESULTS: The triglyceride concentrations in human milk were lower than those of the formula milk, possibly due to an incomplete collection of fat-rich hindmilk. Formula milks tended towards a higher proportion of medium chain fatty acids and lower proportions of longer-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Formulas had cholesterol concentrations 3-35 times lower, and much higher phytosterol concentrations, compared with the human milk. In the formula milk types the glucose, sorbitol and myoinositol concentrations were generally lower, whereas the fucose and erythreitol concentrations were in the lower mean +/- 2s.d. human milk range. The galactose concentrations in the formulas were generally higher. CONCLUSIONS: Formula milk and human milk differ considerably in fatty acid composition and concentrations of cholesterol, phytosterols, monosaccharides and sugar alcohols. The biological consequences of these differences in composition are uncertain.

Gestational age dependency of essential fatty acids in cord plasma cholesterol esters and triglycerides.

Plasma cholesterol ester and triglyceride fatty acid compositions of 38 singleton deliveries (23-42 wk), three twins (32, 39, and 40 wk), and their mothers were investigated. No gestational age-dependent changes occurred in maternal fatty acid compositions. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in fetal cholesterol esters and triglycerides were higher, and their precursors (18:2c,omega 6 and 18:3c,omega 3) were lower than those in corresponding maternal lipid classes. Except for 22:6c,omega 3,20:2c,omega 6, and 22:5c,omega 6, all long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in fetal triglycerides increased with advancing gestation. Fetal triglyceride 22:6c,omega 3/22:5c,omega 3 ratio decreased, whereas 22:5c,omega 6/22:4c,omega 6 remained constant. Fetal cholesterol ester and triglyceride 20:3c,omega 9 contents were higher than those of corresponding maternal fractions and did not change with gestation. Triglyceride 18:2c,omega 6 contents of babies with gestational ages of more than 34 wk were linearly related to those of their mothers. The data suggest that increasing triglyceride long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid content with advancing gestation is partially caused by delta 6- and delta 5-desaturase maturation in the liver. Constancy of 22:6c,omega 3 and 22:5c,omega 6/22:4c,omega 6 and decrease of 22:6c,omega 3/22:5c,omega 3 in triglycerides may point to low hepatic delta 4-desaturation. Transplacental transport of 20:3c,omega 9, following by fetal conservation, should be considered. High 18:2c,omega 6 and low 18:3,omega 3 intakes by the mother may unfavorably influence fetal production of 22:6c,omega 3 in the liver. Because of low hepatic delta 4-desaturation capacity the influence may be small, however.

Indicators of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid status of exclusively breastfed infants at delivery and after 20-22 days.

The fatty acid composition of plasma cholesterol esters (CE), erythrocytes (RBC) and mature milk from seven lactating/women and their exclusively breastfed newborns, living on Dominica, were studied. Blood samples were taken from umbilical cord and mother at birth. A sample of breastmilk was collected on day 20-22 postpartum, together with a blood sample from the baby. At birth, cord blood plasma CE and RBC total long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) contents were higher, and linoleic (18:2c, omega 6) and alpha-linolenic (18:3c, omega 3) acid contents lower, than in corresponding maternal compartments. Cord blood RBC LC-PUFA omega 3 content was lower and LC-PUFA omega 6 content higher than in maternal RBC. After birth, feeding with human milk led to a drop in LC-PUFA content in the plasma CE fraction, whereas RBC LC-PUFA content remained virtually constant. Current understanding of the origin and relative affinity of fatty acids incorporated in plasma CE and RBC suggests that RBC LC-PUFA content is a more reliable parameter for LC-PUFA status than plasma CE LC-PUFA content. The RBC LC-PUFA data suggest therefore that at birth the newborn has a lower LC-PUFA omega 3 status than the mother, and that this does not change during three weeks of exclusive breastfeeding.

Indicators of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid status of exclusively breastfed infants at delivery and after 20-22 days

The fatty acid composition of plasma cholesterol esters (CE), erythrocytes (RBC) and mature milk from seven lactating women and their exclusively breastfed newborns, living on Dominica, were studied. Blood samples were taken from umbilical cord and mother at birth. A sample of breastmilk was collected on day 20-22 postpartum, together with a blood sample from the baby. At birth, cord blood plasma CE and RBC total long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) contents were higher, and linoleic (18:2c, omega 6) and alpha-linolenic (18:3c, omega 3) acid contents lower, than in corresponding maternal compartments. Cord blood RBC LC-PUFA omega 3 content was lower and LC-PUFA omega 6 content higher than in maternal RBC. After birth, feeding with human milk led to a drop in LC-PUFA content in the plasma CE fraction, whereas RBC LC-PUFA content remained virtually constant. Current understanding of the origin and relative affinity of fatty acids incorporated in plasma CE and RBC suggests that RBC LC-PUFA content is a more reliable parameter for LC-PUFA status than plasma CE LC-PUFA content. The RBC LC-PUFA data suggest therefore that at birth the newborn has a lower LC-PUFA omega 3 status than the mother, and that this does not change during three weeks of exclusive breastfeeding (AU)

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid status of the exclusively breastfed infant in Dominica at delivery and after 20-22 days - abstract

The fatty compositions of plasma cholesterol esters (CE) and erythrocytes (RBC) from five lactating women and their exclusively breastfed newborns, living in Dominica, were studied. Blood samples were taken from the umbilical cord and mother at birth. A second blood sample of the newborn and a sample of breast milk were taken on day 20-22 postpartum. Fatty acids were determined by capillary gas chromatography. At birth, cord blood plasma CE and RBC long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) contents were higher, and linoleic acid (18:2c, w6) contents lower, than in corresponding maternal compartments. Accretion of LC-PUFA by the foetus may be accomplished by a-fetoprotein , that has a high affinity for LC-PUFA and is taken up by a variety of foetal tissues in a receptor-mediated fashion. After birth breastfeeding leads to a drop of LC-PUFA content in the plasma CE fraction, whereas RBC LC-PUFA content remains constant. Is is conceivable that RBC LC-PUFA content is a more reliable parameter for LC-PUFA status than the plasma CE LC-PUFA (AU)