Associations of Region and Lactation Stage with Odd-Chain Fatty Acid Profile in Triglycerides of Breast Milk in China.

ABSTRACT

Odd-chain fatty acids (OCFAs), with potential value for growing infants, have been reported in breast milk. The association of location and lactation stage with the profile and content of OCFAs in breast milk was studied. We analyzed 1487 breast milk samples collected from 12 areas in China, and 102 infant formulas from different brands were purchased from the local supermarket. The content of sn-2 C150 significantly decreased from the colostrum to the mature stage, while that of C170 was not significantly increased by the lactation stage (p > 0.05). The content of C150 and C170 significantly decreased dramatically after the colostrum period, while the content of C130 was highest in the mature stage. The level of C150 and C170 in human milk from Gansu and Xinjiang was significantly higher than that from other areas. Similar trends were observed on the level of sn-2 C150 and C170, whereas the content of sn-2 C110 and C130 was significantly higher in breast milk from Shandong. Based on the PDS-LA analysis, the difference among infant formulas, each stage of human milk and human milk from different locations were different. Research is needed to determine if there are health benefits associated with OCFAs.