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Human milk fatty acids profile changes during prolonged lactation: a cross-sectional study
Ronit Lubetzky1, Galit Zaidenberg-Israeli, Francis B Mimouni
1Department of Neonatology, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
The Israel Medical Association Journal : IMAJ
|May 26, 2012
Summary
Human milk from prolonged lactation (>1 year) shows increased levels of lauric acid (C12) and myristic acid (C14). These fatty acids, linked to high cholesterol, were found in higher percentages in milk from mothers lactating longer.
Area of Science:
- Human lactation research
- Nutritional biochemistry
- Pediatric nutrition
Background:
- Human milk composition changes with lactation duration.
- Prolonged lactation (>1 year) yields milk richer in fat and energy compared to short lactation (2-6 months).
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the fatty acid (FA) profile of human milk.
- To test if lauric acid (C12) and myristic acid (C14) proportions differ between prolonged and short lactation periods.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing 30 mothers with >1 year lactation to 25 mothers with 2-6 months lactation.
- Milk samples collected via manual expression mid-feeding.
- Analysis of fatty acid profiles, focusing on C12 and C14.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in maternal or infant characteristics, except mothers in the prolonged group were older.
- A significant positive correlation was observed between lactation duration and C12/C14 percentages.
- While other FAs decreased, C12:0 and C14:0 combined significantly increased over time.
Conclusions:
- Extended lactation (>1 year) is associated with higher percentages of C12 and C14 fatty acids in human milk.
- These findings contrast with the hypothesis that C12 and C14 levels remain similar regardless of lactation duration.
