Studies on the Fluidity of Milk Lipids of Mothers from Three Socioeconomic Groups of West Bengal, India

Abstract

This study evaluated the fluid character of human milk by determining the mean melting points (MMP) of fatty acids of milk lipid of Bengali mothers. Fatty acid methyl esters were analyzed by gas liquid chromatography. MMPs were calculated from the fatty acid concentration (% w/w) and their molar mass. Phospholipid content of samples was also determined. The MMPs of milk lipid of higher income group (n = 48), medium income group (n = 57) and lower income group (n = 112) mothers were found to be 31.33°C ± 0.61, 36.86°C ± 0.64 and 35.11°C ± 0.65, respectively, which showed a significant correlation with the fatty acid composition, with P < 0.0001, 0.003, 0.0001, respectively. The average MMP of milk lipid (34.43°C ± 0.63) of these three groups was below the core body temperature (37.4°C) of human beings, which perhaps helps in maintaining the milk fluidity as well as lipid digestion in breastfed infants.