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Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Milk Collection in the Rat Using Capillary Tubes and Estimation of Milk Fat Content by Creamatocrit
Published on: December 16, 2015
[The carbohydrate composition of human milk]
Abstract:
The carbohydrate content of breast milk was investigated by capillary gas liquid chromatography. The milk samples obtained from 16 normal lactating mothers contained glucose, galactose, lactose, and 3-fucosidolactose. The content of monosaccharides in breast milk was 2-12 times higher than that in cow's milk. The lactose content amounted to 84-95%, whereas the ratio of alpha- tox beta-froms was within 0.92-0.95%. Breast milk was found to contain alpha- and beta-forms of 2- and 3-fucosidolactose which do not occur in cow's milk. The content of these forms accounted for 3%. The biological role of breast milk carbohydrates is discussed.
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