Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in human milk.

Arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are the most representative long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) since they may affect infants' growth and development. LCPUFA are present in the milk of all lactating women throughout lactation. The mothers' dietary habits may affect the levels of these fatty acids in maternal blood lipids and then in milk. LCPUFA show marked differences in levels as wt%, particularly from colostrum to mature human milk, but only mild differences in absolute content. Both the major presence of LCPUFA in human milk phospholipids and some regulatory mechanisms in the mammary gland cells could contribute to the LCPUFA levels in milk beyond those in maternal plasma.