A comparative study of fatty acids in human breast milk and breast milk substitutes in Kuwait.

摘要

Fatty acid composition of human milk obtained from 19 breast feeding Kuwaiti mothers and 22 adapted formulas (breast milk substitutes) was determined using capillary gas chromatographic technique. Palmitic acid, and as a consequence, total saturatedfatty acids were lower in human milk than formula. However, total mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids were higher in human milk than formula. Linoleic acid content in formula milk was similar to human milk, while alpha-linolenic acid was higher in formula. Evidently formula milk preparations provide essential fatty acids for infants in adequate amounts as a result of their fat blend. Formula milk tends to contain lower percentages of cis- and trans-isomeric fatty acids than human milk. In contrast tohuman milk, most formulas lacked physiologically important long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.