OBJECTIVE: To measure the lipid content and the fatty acid (FA) composition of breast milk as part of a nutritional survey of the essential fatty acid (EFA) status of 5 months old Congolese infants. DESIGN: Cross sectional nutrition survey. SETTING: A suburban district of Brazzaville (capital of the Congo). SUBJECTS: A random sample of nursing mothers and their 5 months old infants (n = 102). Data collection procedures: The mothers were questioned on their socio-economic status, dietary habits, and their body mass index (BMI) was measured. Breast milk samples were collected from each mother. Milk lipid content and fatty acid composition were determined. RESULTS: Compared with milk from various countries, Congolese women's mature breast milk was low in lipid (28.70+/-11.33 g/L) but rich in 8:0-14:0 FAs (25.97+/-8.17% of total FAs) and in polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs), particularly n-3 PUFAs (2.39+/-0.68% of total FAs, mainly 18:3 and 22:6). This was associated with the frequent consumption of high-carbohydrate foods (processed cassava roots, wheat bread, doughnuts) known to enhance 8:0-14:0 FA biosynthesis, and with that of foods providing n-6 and n-3 EFAs such as freshwater and saltwater fish, vegetable oil, green leafy vegetables, and high-fat fruit (peanuts, avocado, bushbutter). These foods were traditionally and locally produced. Milk lipid content was negatively related with mothers' BMI (P < 0.01) and varied with the frequency of consumption of certain foods corresponding to distinct dietary patterns. CONCLUSIONS: Lipid content and FA composition of Congolese breast milk were dependent on mother's nutritional status. However, despite an adequate EFA composition of breast milk, partially breast-fed 5 months old Congolese infants probably did not get enough n-6 and n-3 EFAs from breast milk to meet their EFA requirements.
OBJECTIVE: To measure the lipid content and the fatty acid (FA) composition of breast milk as part of a nutritional survey of the essential fatty acid (EFA) status of 5 months old Congolese infants. DESIGN: Cross sectional nutrition survey. SETTING: A suburban district of Brazzaville (capital of the Congo). SUBJECTS: A random sample of nursing mothers and their 5 months old infants (n = 102). Data collection procedures: The mothers were questioned on their socio-economic status, dietary habits, and their body mass index (BMI) was measured. Breast milk samples were collected from each mother. Milk lipid content and fatty acid composition were determined. RESULTS: Compared with milk from various countries, Congolese women's mature breast milk was low in lipid (28.70+/-11.33 g/L) but rich in 8:0-14:0 FAs (25.97+/-8.17% of total FAs) and in polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs), particularly n-3 PUFAs (2.39+/-0.68% of total FAs, mainly 18:3 and 22:6). This was associated with the frequent consumption of high-carbohydrate foods (processed cassava roots, wheat bread, doughnuts) known to enhance 8:0-14:0 FA biosynthesis, and with that of foods providing n-6 and n-3 EFAs such as freshwater and saltwater fish, vegetable oil, green leafy vegetables, and high-fat fruit (peanuts, avocado, bushbutter). These foods were traditionally and locally produced. Milk lipid content was negatively related with mothers' BMI (P < 0.01) and varied with the frequency of consumption of certain foods corresponding to distinct dietary patterns. CONCLUSIONS:Lipid content and FA composition of Congolese breast milk were dependent on mother's nutritional status. However, despite an adequate EFA composition of breast milk, partially breast-fed 5 months old Congolese infants probably did not get enough n-6 and n-3 EFAs from breast milk to meet their EFA requirements.
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Keywords:
Africa; Africa South Of The Sahara; Biology; Breast Feeding; Congo; Cross Sectional Analysis; Developing Countries; Diet--women; Family And Household; Family Characteristics; Family Relationships; French Speaking Africa; Health; Human Milk; Infant Nutrition; Lactation; Lipids; Maternal Nutrition; Maternal Physiology; Middle Africa; Mothers; Nutrition; Parents; Physiology; Research Methodology; Research Report
Authors: C W Yaméogo; B Cichon; C Fabiansen; M J H Rytter; D Faurholt-Jepsen; K D Stark; A Briend; S Shepherd; A S Traoré; V B Christensen; K F Michaelsen; H Friis; L Lauritzen Journal: Nutr J Date: 2017-07-13 Impact factor: 3.271