Effect of lactation stages and dietary intake on the fatty acid composition of human milk (A study in northeast China)

The correlation among lactation stages (until 30 days), lactation dietary intake and fatty acid (FA) composition in human milk (n = 202) was evaluated. The total saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and total monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) remained stable over lactation progression, but medium-chain SFAs increased during the lactation stages. The n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids were in highest concentrations in mature milk owing to the highest levels of C18:3n-6 and C18:2n-6 (0.18% and 46.06% respectively). Linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) intakes were within the recommended levels. Linear regression analysis indicated that the intake of soybean oil and dietary ALA intake affected the n-6 PUFA content in colostrum and transitional milk positively. The effect of dietary intake on FA composition in human milk decreased during the first 30 days and nutritional regulation in the early stage of lactation should be highlighted. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.