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Polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations in human hindmilk are stable throughout 12-months of lactation and provide a sustained intake to the infant during exclusive breastfeeding: an Italian study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Franca Marangoni ,
Carlo Agostoni ,
Anna M. Lammard ,
Marcello Giovannini ,
Claudio Galli  and
Enrica Riva
Franca Marangoni*
Affiliation:
Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, 9 Via Balzaretti, 20133 Milan, Italy
Carlo Agostoni
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, 8 Via A di Rudinì, 20142 Milan, Italy
Anna M. Lammard
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, 8 Via A di Rudinì, 20142 Milan, Italy
Marcello Giovannini
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, 8 Via A di Rudinì, 20142 Milan, Italy
Claudio Galli
Affiliation:
Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, 9 Via Balzaretti, 20133 Milan, Italy
Enrica Riva
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, 8 Via A di Rudinì, 20142 Milan, Italy
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Franca Marangoni, fax +39 2 29404961, email franca.marangoni@unimi.it
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Abstract

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While a wealth of data on the fatty acid composition of mature human milk has been published, limited information is available on the quantities of individual fatty acids supplied to the suckling infant with maternal milk, through the whole first year of life. Our aim was to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the fatty acid composition of human milk from Italian mothers, throughout extended lactation with particular emphasis on the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. We have thus measured the total fat content and the concentrations of major fatty acids by quantitative GLC in pooled breast hindmilk collected from all feedings over 24 h at colostrum, 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months in ten mothers recruited after delivery of full-term infants. Total saturated fatty acids progressively increase and total monounsaturated progressively decrease as percentage levels, while among long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, percentages of arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid decrease from colostrum up to the third month. Hindmilk total lipids (mg/dl) rise more than twofold up to 3 months, and then remain stable. The amounts (mg/dl) of linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid progressively increase, following the trend of total fat, while arachidonic and docosahexaenoic concentrations (mg/dl) remain stable throughout the whole nursing period. Assessment of the intakes per kg body weight shows different trends for the individual major long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids supplied to the infant from hindmilk during exclusive breast-feeding (3 months). This information may be useful for the evaluation of infant intakes during extended lactation.

Keywords

Human milk lipidsDocosahexaenoic acidInfant nutrition
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 84 , Issue 1 , July 2000 , pp. 103 - 109
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2000

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