Abstract
The fatty acid composition of human breast milk was determined longitudinally after term and preterm delivery by high resolution gas liquid chromatography. Milk samples were obtained at days 5, 10, 20 and 30 after term (n = 38) or preterm (n = 19) delivery. The saturated fatty acids C10:0 and C12:0 and the polyunsaturates linoleic acid (C18:2ω-6) and α-linolenic acid (C18:3ω-3) increased significantly from day 5 to day 10, whereas arachidonic acid (C20:4ω-6), total ω-6 long-chain polyunsaturates (LCP), docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6ω3) and total ω-3 LCP decreased significantly. Term and preterm milk did not differ in percentage content of linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid and LCP at any time point. Preterm milk contained significantly more medium and intermediate chain fatty acids (C10:0, C12:0 and C14:0) than term milk on days 5 (12.28 vs 9.78%; P > 0.05), 10 (16.25 vs 12.62%; P > 0.05) and 20 (17.29 vs 13.47%; P > 0.005).
Conclusion The milk of mothers of preterm infants is not better suited to meet the high LCP requirements of their infants during the first weeks after birth. The slightly higher proportion of medium and intermediate chain fatty acids in preterm milk during the 1st month after birth might be advantageous for the fat and calcium absorption of preterm infants.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 22 February 1996 / Accepted: 1 August 1996
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Genzel-Boroviczényy, O., Wahle, J. & Koletzko, B. Fatty acid composition of human milk during the 1st month after term and preterm delivery. Eur J Pediatr 156, 142–147 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004310050573
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004310050573