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Fatty Acid Composition of Human Milk in Different Regions of Slovenia

2000; Karger Publishers; Volume: 44; Issue: 5-6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1159/000046682

1421-9697

Nataša Fidler Mis, K. Salobir, Vekoslava Stibilj,

Metabolism and Genetic Disorders

<i>Background:</i> The fatty acid composition of human colostrum lipids is influenced by maternal diet. We measured the fatty acid composition of colostrum lipids in Slovenia. <i>Methods:</i> Milk samples were collected on the 3rd day postpartum from 41 women recruited in three Slovenian regions (Celje, Ljubljana and Koper). Dietary habits were examined by a food-frequency questionnaire. In situ transesterification and capillary gas chromatography were performed to determine the fatty acid composition. <i>Results:</i> The coefficients of variation of the determinations of individual fatty acids accounting for >0.09 wt% were 1.87–5.91%. Between regional areas there were differences in the contents of linoleic (12.62–17.35 wt%; p < 0.001) and α-linolenic acid (0.70–1.07 wt%; p < 0.01), whereas the linoleic/α-linolenic acid ratios were similar (15.8 in Celje, 16.3 in Ljubljana and 17.9 in Koper). The highest proportion of docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n–3) was in Celje (0.49 wt%), the lowest in Ljubljana (0.35 wt%; p < 0.05). The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCP) content did not correlate with linoleic and α-linolenic acid, but there was a correlation between the sum of n–3 and n–6 LCPs. The colostrum linoleic/α-linolenic acid ratio was positively correlated with the body mass index during pregnancy. <i>Conclusions:</i> The fatty acid composition of colostrum lipids in Slovenia shows some variation according to geographical regions.