Abstract
The human milk fatty acid, including trans fatty acid, composition is predominantly affected by the maternal diet. The aim of this research was to determine the trans fatty acid level in human milk among lactating women in Latvia, and to evaluate how maternal dietary habits affect the trans fatty acid composition of human milk. In total, 70 lactating women participated in this cross-sectional study. A 72-hour food diary and food frequency questionnaire were used to evaluate maternal dietary habits. Different trans fatty acids in human milk samples were determined using gas chromatography (Agilent 6890N, Agilent Technologies Incorporated, the United States). Overall, the dietary intake of trans fatty acids among the participants was 0.54 ± 0.79 g per day. The total trans fatty acid level in the human milk samples was 2.30% ± 0.60%. The composition of trans fatty acids found in human milk was associated with maternal dietary habits. Higher elaidic acid, vaccenic acid and total trans fatty acid levels in human milk were found among participants with a higher milk and dairy product intake. Meat and meat product intake were associated with a higher vaccenic acid and total trans fatty acid levels in human milk. A moderate association was also established between maternal trans fatty acid intake and the total trans fatty acid level in human milk. The obtained correlations indicate that maternal dietary habits during lactation can impact the composition of trans fatty acids found in human milk.
Highlights
Half of infants in Latvia receive human milk for the first six months of life, and for 15–20% of them, human milk is the only nutrient source during this time [1].Nutrients for human milk are derived from maternal body stores and those absorbed directly from the maternal diet [2]
We have previously reported that fish intake reflects on the docosahexaenoic acid level in human milk among lactating women from Latvia [3]
Similar to observations reported from other countries [10,21,23], this study reports that the trans fatty acid level in human milk is directly linked to the maternal dietary intake of trans fatty acids
Summary
Half of infants in Latvia receive human milk for the first six months of life, and for 15–20% of them, human milk is the only nutrient source during this time [1].Nutrients for human milk are derived from maternal body stores and those absorbed directly from the maternal diet [2]. Half of infants in Latvia receive human milk for the first six months of life, and for 15–20% of them, human milk is the only nutrient source during this time [1]. A well-balanced diet during lactation is important, both for the mother and breastfed infant [2]. There are the following two sources of fatty acids in human milk depending on the length of fatty acids: . Fatty acids up to 14 carbon atoms are synthesised from the glucose via pentose phosphate cycle within the mammary glands; long-chain fatty acids (≥C16) are derived from the maternal bloodstream, and they are transported into lactocytes via the protein-mediated membrane transport system [2]. We have previously reported that fish intake reflects on the docosahexaenoic acid level in human milk among lactating women from Latvia [3]
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