A Study On Fatty Acid Compositions Of Human Preterm And Fullterm Milk

The purpose of this study was to investigate fatty acid compositions of preterm milk in Korea. Among 130 total subjects, 104 women delivered at preterm (birth wt <1.8kg or gestational age <34wks) and 26 women at fullterm. Preterm milk samples were obtained at 31~32 (birth~1wk after birth), 33, 35, 37, 39, and 43wks of gestational age, and fullterm milk samples at 39~40wks. Fat was extracted by Folch’s method and fatty acid was analyzed by GC. The average birth wt and gestational age of preterm and fullterm babies were 1.46±0.05kg, 3.29±0.15kg and 31.7±0.29wks, 39.1±0.21wks respectively. In preterm milk, the compositions of linoleate (C18:2ω6), alpha-linolenate (C18:3ω3) and oleate (C18:1ω9) remained stable throughout the lactation period. Although the P/S ratio remained constant during the lactation, due to significant decreases in ω3 LCPUFA (except EPA), the ratio of ω6/ω3 resulted in a significant increase (p<0.01). While DHA (C22:6ω3) and AA (C20:4ω6) showed gradual decreases up to 43wks of gestational age (p<0.01), the ratio of DHA/AA was kept constant (1.02~1.23) throughout the period. As compared to fullterm milk, the ratio of DHA/AA was similar between the preterm and fullterm milk. In conclusion, the patterns of fatty acid compositions in preterm milk appeared to be similar to those of fullterm milk. The absolute amounts of PUFAs, MUFAs, and SFAs, however, were significantly higer in preterm milk. The ratio of DHA/AA remained stable throughout the lactation.