Fatty acid composition of polar lipids in goats' milk.

Silicic acid column chromatography was used to separate the polar lipids of goats' milk into glycolipid, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine plus phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylcholine, and sphingomyelin fractions. Each fraction was purified by column chromatography and its fatty acid profile determined by gas liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The glycerophospholipids each contained 18:1 as the predominant fatty acid (approximately 45%). The sphingolipids contained a high percentage of long-chain saturated fatty acids (C22 to C24 greater than 45%); the glycolipid fraction also contained ca. 2% 2-hydroxy fatty acids. The data represent a comprehensive cross-sectional study of the major polar lipids found in goats' milks.