Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Composition of Human Colostrum Lipids in Slovenia: Regional Differences

Nataša Fidler* and Karl Salobir

University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Institute of Nutrition, Groblje 3, SI-1230 Domžale, Slovenia

Article history:
Received January 11, 2000
Accepted March 28, 2000

Key words:
long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, human colostrum

Summary:
The fatty acid composition of human milk in Slovenia has not been investigated previously. In the present investigation the fatty acid composition of colostrum lipids from 41 Slovenian women recruited the third day post partum in three Slovenian hospitals (Celje, Koper and Ljubljana) was analysed. The coefficient of variation for the measurement of individual fatty acids participating more than 0.1 % was from 2 to 6 %. According to regional areas, there were significant differences (P<0.05) in polyunsaturated fatty acids contents of colostrum lipids both of n-6
linoleic (C18:2), γ-linolenic (C18:3) and n-3 series α
-linolenic (C18:3), octadecatetraenoic (C18:4), eicosatrienoic (C20:3) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6). The linoleic acid represented between 12.6 % (Koper) and 17.4 % of total fatty acids (Ljubljana) in colostrum lipids. The α-linolenic acid accounted from 0.7 % (Koper) to 1.1 % (Ljubljana) and the average linoleic to -linolenic acid ratio was 16.8. The lowest portion of docosahexaenoic acid in colostrum lipids was in Ljubljana (0.35 %), whereas the highest in Celje (0.49 %, P<0.05). Differences in fatty acid composition of colostrum lipids in various regions of Slovenia are presumably due to regional differences in dietary habits.

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