Many published studies of breast milk FA composition are limited to populations from one or two countries. We aimed to examine the degree to which FA compositions vary across a number of diverse populations. Because diet and maternal adipose stores influence breast milk FA composition, differences in FA composition between groups most likely reflect habitual dietary differences. Approximately 50 breast milk samples (full breast expression) were collected from women in Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The proportion of saturated FA was relatively constant among countries, with the exception of the Philippines, where levels of lauric and myristic acids were elevated (means greater than two times the mean of most other countries). Monounsaturated FA also varied little, with the exception of low levels of oleic acid in the Philippines and high levels of erucic acid in China. Although arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6) levels were similar among all countries (means ranging from 0.36 wt % to 0.49 wt %), mean DHA (C22:6n-3) levels ranged from 0.17 to 0.99 wt %, with the highest levels in Japanese milk and the lowest levels in Canadian and U.S. samples. The results of this study demonstrate that the proportion of saturated and monounsaturated FA are relatively constant across a large number of countries, whereas the level of some of the PUFA, especially DHA, are highly variable.

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Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of an a-lactalbumin-enriched formula with a protein profile and total protein concentration closer to human milk (HM) and lower than conventional formulas. Subjects/methods: Two hundred and sixteen healthy, term infants, p14 days post-natal age were enrolled and 166 (76.9%) completed the study. Timed post-prandial plasma essential amino-acid levels were determined after 8 weeks of ad libitum study feeding. Study events were assessed every 2 weeks. Results: At 8 weeks, all mean plasma essential amino-acid levels in the experimental formula (EF) group were as high as the standard formula (SF) and HM groups. The incidence of feeding-related gastrointestinal (GI) events varied significantly (P ¼ 0.025) across groups: SF (31.3%), EF (17.2%) and HM (13.6%), with SF being significantly higher than HM (P ¼ 0.015). Study withdrawals due to feeding-related GI events were significantly different (P ¼ 0.001) across groups: SF (12.5%), EF (4.7%), and HM (0%). The timing of GI events was also significantly different across groups (P ¼ 0.010). Conclusion: The study demonstrated that feeding a higher quality, lower protein concentration formula (a-lactalbuminenriched) met all essential amino acid and protein requirements of infants. The GI tolerance profile of infants receiving the EF was similar to HM-fed infants.

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The results of this study demonstrate the safety and efficacy of a preterm formula supplemented with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids from single-cell oils.