issue2

The study compares the fatty acid profiles of breast milk from full-term (FT) and pre-term (PT) infant mothers. Using gas-chromatographic technique, the breast milk secreted during the 1^st; and 4^th weeks of lactation were used to analyse fatty acid composition. Myristic (C14), palmitic (C16), oleic (C18:1) and linoleic (C18:2) acids were the predominant fatty acids found in both FT and PT milk samples. FT milk, however contained higher percentages of unsaturated fatty acids (C18:1 and C18:2) when compared to PT milk samples (P<0.05). Saturated fatty acids generally decrease as lactation period increases in both PT and FT mothers’ milk. Lactation period was found to have a significant effect on fatty acid profiles of mothers’ milk. The high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the mothers’ milk will be of advantage in terms of both energy needed for growth and nervous system development for both the PT and FT.

Article Purchasing

If you would like to buy just this specific document (article, review or this journal issue) contact us.

Please specify the title of the article or review, issue, number and volume.

Software and compilation © 2002 Science & Technology. All rights reserved.
Your use of this service is governed by Terms and Conditions. Please review our copyright Policy for details on how we protect information that you supply.

Note to Users

The section "Articles in Press" contains peer reviewed and accepted articles to be published in the print and/or online journal.

The requested document is freely available only to registered users with an online subscription to Food, Agriculture & Environment. If you have set up a personal subscription to this title please enter your user name and password.

Effect of lactation period on fatty acid profile of breast milk

Abstract