Fatty acid profile of cows milk from regions of Maopolska available on the Polish market

Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare the percentage of fatty acids in market milk from producers in different regions of Maopolska, during the summer and winter seasons. The study was conducted on pasteurized milk with a fat content of 3.2%, produced in six dairies in the Maopolskie voivodeship. The products were labelled as milk from mountainous areas (M1, M2, M3 and M4), and milk from other areas (M5 and M6). The fatty acid profile was determined using a gas chromatograph. The analysis included saturated fatty acids (SFA), unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), including monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA), the content of hypocholesterolemic fatty acids (DFA) and hypercholesterolemic fatty acids (OFA), and gave the DFA/OFA and UFA/SFA fatty acid ratios. The results indicate that drinking milk produced from raw material from local cows grazing in mountainous regions had a favourable health-promoting fatty acid profile. It contained more PUFA n-3 acids, including -linolenic acid C18:3 n-3, as well as vaccenic acid C18:1 n-7 and CLA compared to milk from cows from other regions of Maopolska. Milk from cows from mountainous regions also had significantly higher (P<0.05) DFA content and DFA/OFA ratios. Higher levels of desirable DFA acids and DFA/OFA ratios were found in drinking milk during the summer season.