Regional similarities and differences in mature human milk fatty acids in Chinese population: A systematic review. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sun, Han; Ren, Qiqi; Zhao, Xuejun; Tian, Yueyue; Pan, Jiancun; Wei, Qiaosi; Li, Yuanyuan; Chen, Yong; Zhang, Huaqin; Zhang, Wei; Jiang, Shilong
• Is Part Of: Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids. Volume 162(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Breast milk -- Mature milk -- Fatty acid composition -- China -- Early-life nutrition; SFAs saturated fatty acids -- MUFAs monounsaturated fatty acids -- PUFAs polyunsaturated fatty acids -- ALA α-linolenic acid -- LA linoleic Acid -- DHA docosahexaenoic acid -- ARA arachidonic acid -- EPA eicosapentaenoic acid; Lipids -- Periodicals; Unsaturated fatty acids -- Periodicals; Prostaglandins -- Periodicals; Leukotrienes -- Periodicals; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated -- Periodicals; Acides gras insaturés -- Périodiques; Prostaglandines -- Périodiques; Leucotriènes -- Périodiques; Lipides -- Périodiques; 612.01577
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2020.102184
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0952-3278

Abstract

Highlights: We categorized regions of China to study regional differences in milk fatty acids. Average ratio of ΣSFAs: ΣMUFAs: ΣPUFAs was 1:1:0.7 and was similar among regions. Contents of palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids were also similar among regions. Palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids account for >70% of mature milk fatty acids. ALA and DHA differed more greatly than palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids. Abstract: Maternal factors such as the diet can impact human milk fatty acid profiles. We hypothesized that mature human milk fatty acid profiles differ among regions of China. To test our hypothesis, we conducted a systematic review to calculate regional average contents of fatty acids and the statistical significance of regional differences in fatty acids. We searched both Chinese and English literature databases and selected 21 articles, including 11 in Chinese and 10 in English. We categorized regions of China by 3 ways: 1) north vs. south; 2) inland vs. coastal; 3) socioeconomic development levels. The ratios of ΣSFAs:ΣMUFAs:ΣPUFAs were similar between regions and the average was 1:1:0.7. Contents of palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids were also similar between regions and together they accounted for more than 70% of all fatty acids in mature human milk. Conversely, concentrations of ALA and DHA differed more than palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids. We also found that it might be necessary to reduce maternal dietary contents of potentially harmful fatty acids such as erucic acid to minimize detrimental effects on infant health. To our knowledge, this study represents the first systematic review that quantitatively investigated the regional similarities and differences in mature human milk fatty acid contents and is therefore significant for academia and policy makers.