trans Fatty Acids in Colostrum, Mature Milk and Diet of Lactating Adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the trans fatty acids (TFA) content and distribution in colostrum, mature milk, and diet of adolescent mothers, after TFA declaration in food labels became mandatory in Brazil. Participants were healthy adolescents (n 54, 15-19 years, 1-90 days postpartum) practicing exclusive breastfeeding. Milk samples were collected 3 days after delivery (colostrum) and in the third month postpartum (mature milk) by hand expression. The fatty acid composition of the milk samples was determined by gas chromatography. TFA intake corresponded to 1.23 % of total energy value. Total 18:2 TFA accounted for less than 0.5 % of the energy intake. The amount of total 18:1 TFA (mean ± SEM) was 1.9 % ± 0.14 in colostrum and 1.5 % ± 0.2 in mature milk. The total content of n-3 PUFA was inversely correlated with the total content of 18:1 TFA in colostrum. Both in colostrum and in mature milk, vaccenic acid (11t-18:1) was found to be the most abundant 18:1 trans isomer, followed by elaidic acid (9t-18:1), whereas rumenic acid (9c,11t-18:2 CLA) was the predominant 18:2 trans isomer. In conclusion, the levels of TFA of industrial sources found in the mother's diet and breast milk (colostrum and mature milk) showed a decrease in relation to those observed in studies conducted prior to the TFA labeling resolution in Brazil. However, the current low intake levels of n-3 LCPUFA and DHA content in the milk of lactating adolescents may be insufficient for supporting adequate neurological development of the infants.

A Comparison of Changes in the Fatty Acid Profile of Human Milk of Spanish Lactating Women during the First Month of Lactation Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. A Comparison with Infant Formulas

“…However, higher levels of ALA were observed in mature milk compared to the colostrum and transitional groups, as has also been described by other authors [15].…”

“…Oleic acid (C18:1 n-9) constitutes more than 90% of the total MUFAs, finding similar values in human milk groups and infant formulas. This is fundamentally linked to the consumption of olive oil, representing levels greater than 40% [6,15].…”

“…These fatty acids are also associated with the development of allergic diseases and inflammatory responses [11]. They regulate growth, alongside visual, cognitive, and motor development during the first year of life [12][13][14][15].…”

Human milk enriched with human milk lyophilisate for feeding very low birth weight preterm infants: A preclinical experimental study focusing on fatty acid profile

“…The DHA levels found in HMB in the present study (0.10%) were lower than those reported in studies from other countries: Portugal, 0.43% [ 51 ]; Germany, 0.35% [ 52 ]; Italy, 0.26% [ 53 ]; Hungary, 0.23% [ 54 ]; Taiwan, 0.98% [ 55 ]; Israel and the Netherlands, 0.17% [ 56 , 57 ]; China, 0.30% [ 58 ]; South Korea, 0.67% [ 59 ]; and Spain, 0.21% [ 60 ]. In Brazil, a recent study in Rio de Janeiro reported a DHA content of 0.17% in milk sourced from breastfeeding adolescents [ 61 ]. Nishimura et al (2013) evaluated the fatty acid composition of mature human milk from women residing in Ribeirão Preto/São Paulo (far from the Brazilian coast), and found that the DHA content in human milk was among the lowest reported so far (0.09%) [ 20 ].…”

Differential Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Status and Placental Transport in Adolescent Pregnancies

“…Corroborating our findings, lower levels of DHA, total n -3 PUFA and LCPUFA have been previously reported in Brazilian pregnant adolescents of similar socioeconomic condition using erythrocyte FA profile to assess PUFA status [ 29 ]. Even though we have not directly accessed the participant’s dietary intake, we speculate that this could be related to the lipid composition of maternal diet, as evidence on the dietary pattern of Brazilian pregnant and lactating adolescents suggest relatively high intake of n -6 PUFA, especially LA, and low consumption of n -3 LCPUFA, particularly DHA [ 29 , 30 , 31 ]. In addition, endogenous n -3 conversion of ALA to DHA may be inhibited by high dietary levels of the n -6 precursor LA, since both ALA and LA compete as substrates for ∆-6 desaturase, and this may further enhance the reliance upon maternal dietary intake of preformed DHA to meet fetal demands [ 32 ].…”