The positional distribution of fatty acids in the triacylglycerol backbones of yak milk from different pastoral areas

Abstract

The regiodistribution of fatty acids (FAs) in triacylglycerols plays a critical role in the digestion and adsorption of milk lipids. However, the stereospecific location of FAs in yak milk triacylglycerols remains unknown. In this study, the intrapositional and interpositional distribution of FAs in the yak milk from different pastoral areas were compared with those of human milk and cow milk. When compared with human milk, the stereospecific locations of FAs were relatively similar between yak milk and cow milk. However, White yak milk and human milk contained similar interpositional proportions of linoleic, α-linolenic acid and polyunsaturated FAs at the sn-3 position, significantly higher than those of cow milk. Moreover, the sn-3 interpositional proportion of α-linolenic acid in Maiwa yak milk was even higher than that in human milk. The study suggests that yak milk might provide better nutritional benefits as a source of essential FAs than cow milk.