Lipid content and essential fatty acid (EFA) composition of mature Congolese breast milk are influenced by mothers' nutritional status : impact on infants' EFA supply

1998

Article

Rocquelin Gérard, Tapsoba S., Dop Marie-Claude, Mbemba F., Traissac Pierre, Martin-Prével Yves

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1998, 52 (3), p. 164-171 ISSN 0954-3007

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 questionned 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.

Composition chimique, valeur nutritionnelle et toxicité [054ALIM02] ; Pathologies nutritionnelles et surveillance nutritionnelle [054PHYMED02]

COMPOSITION DES ALIMENTS ; LAIT MATERNEL ; LIPIDE ; ACIDE GRAS ; ENQUETE NUTRITIONNELLE ; NOURRISSON ; ANTHROPOMETRIE NUTRITIONNELLE ; HABITUDE ALIMENTAIRE MATERNELLE

CONGO ; BRAZZAVILLE

Fonds IRD [F B010013499] ; Montpellier (Centre IRD)

fdi:010013499