Breast milk and erythrocyte fatty acid composition of lactating women residing in a peri-urban South African township

Publication date: Available online 6 November 2019Source: Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty AcidsAuthor(s): Linda P. Siziba, Tsitsi Chimhashu, Sicelosethu S. Siro, Jennifer Osei Ngounda, Adriaan Jacobs, Linda Malan, Cornelius M. Smuts, Jeannine BaumgartnerAbstractData on breast milk fatty acid (FA) composition in South African lactating women in relation to their FA status, as well as on potential compositional changes within feed, are limited.The aim of this study was to assess the FA composition of breast milk sampled at three time points within feed, and to determine associations with red blood cell (RBC) total phospholipid FA levels in lactating South African mothers of 2-4-month-old breastfed infants.FA composition (% total FAs) was analyzed in RBC total phospholipids, and in fore-, mid-feed and hind-milk samples of lactating mothers (n=100) of Black African descent living in a peri-urban township.The mean age of the lactating women was 27.8 ± 6.8 years. Geometric mean (95% CI) breast milk saturated FA, MUFA and PUFA contents were 37.7 (37.3,38.1), 28.5 (27.9, 28.8), and 23.5 (23.2, 24.5)%, respectively. Breast milk DHA and AA contents were 0.25 (0.24, 3.71) and 0.81 (0.79, 0.83)%, respectively, in fore-, mid- and hind-milk combined. Maternal RBC EPA, DHA and AA levels were 0.37 (0.34, 0.40), 3.8 (3.6, 4.0) and 15.4 (14.8, 16.1)%, respectively. Women who reported to consume fish often (n=3) had significantly higher RBC EPA levels than women who consumed f...
Source: Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids (PLEFA) - Category: Lipidology Source Type: research