Correlation Between Fatty Acid Profile in Plasma and Mature Breast Milk
Beatriz Estella López1* and Paula Fernanda Riveros2
1Nutritionist - Dietitian PhD- Msc in Pharmaceutical and Food Sciences, University of Antioquia. Medellin Colombia
2Nutritionist - Dietitian. University of Antioquia, Medellin Colombia
*Corresponding Author: Beatriz Estella López-Marín, Nutritionist - Dietitian PhD- Msc in Pharmaceutical and Food Sciences, University of Antioquia. Medellin Colombia.
Published: February 05, 2024
Abstract
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are crucial for infants as they reach mature breast milk through the bloodstream, originating from the digestion and absorption of ingested fat and/or mobilization of maternal fat reserves. Research indicates that blood plasma fatty acids are of dietary origin, suggesting that their content in mature breast milk is dependent on their circulating quantity in the plasma.
Objective: To evaluate the serum fatty acid profile and its influence on the fatty acid content in mature breast milk.
Materials and Methods: Fifty women breastfeeding for a minimum of 30 days participated. Thirty milliliters of mature breast milk were collected from both breasts between 7 to 9 AM using manual extraction, along with 2 milliliters of blood. Fatty acid profiling for mature breast milk and plasma was conducted using gas chromatography, employing an internal standard and a reference pattern (FAME Mix of 37 components) for fatty acid identification.
Results: Minimal correlation was found, such as in linoleic acid, cis-docosahexaenoic acid, and cis-eicosapentaenoic acid; low correlation was observed with palmitoleic acid, while there was no correlation with the rest of the fatty acids. Conclusions: There was no significant correlation between plasma fatty acid content and mature breast milk. Its content appears to be primarily driven by the baby's nutritional needs and is directly related to a physiological process of the mammary gland.
Keywords: Human milk; fatty acids; blood plasma; data correlation
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