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The influence of the diet and nutritional status of milk donors on the nutritional composition of donor human milk (DHM) is unknown. The present study aimed to determine the nutritional profile of DHM and the associations between donors’ dietary intake and nutritional status and the micronutrient and lipid composition in DHM. For this purpose, 113 donors completed a food frequency questionnaire, provided a five-day weighed dietary record, and collected milk for five consecutive days. Nutrient determinations in donors’ erythrocytes, plasma, urine, and milk were performed. Multiple linear regressions were conducted for the evaluation of the associations. We highlight the following results: DHM docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was positively associated with donors’ plasma DHA content and donors’ DHA intake (R2 0.45, p < 0.001). For every 1 g/day DHA intake, an increase of 0.38% in DHA content and 0.78% in total omega-3 content was observed in DHM (R2 0.29, p < 0.001). DHM saturated fatty acids were positively associated with erythrocyte dimethyl acetals, plasma stearic acid, trans fatty acids intake, and breastfeeding duration and negatively associated with erythrocyte margaroleic acid (R2 0.34, p < 0.01). DHM cholecalciferol was associated with plasma cholecalciferol levels and dairy intake (R2 0.57, p < 0.01). Other weaker associations were found for free thiamin, free riboflavin, pyridoxal, dehydroascorbic acid, and the lipid profile in DHM. In conclusion, the diet and nutritional status of donors influence the fatty acid profile and micronutrient content of DHM., Instituto de Salud Carlos III (España), Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España), Depto. de Salud Pública y Materno - Infantil, Fac. de Medicina, TRUE, pub

Women of childbearing age in Western societies are increasingly adopting vegetarian diets. These women are sometimes rejected as milk donors, but little about the composition of their milk is known. The present study aimed to compare the intake, nutritional status, and nutritional composition of human milk from omnivore human milk donors (Donors) and vegetarian/vegan lactating mothers (Veg). Milk, blood, and urine samples from 92 Donors and 20 Veg were used to determine their fatty acid profiles, as well as vitamins and minerals. In a representative sample of both groups, we also determined the lipid class profile as a distribution of neutral and polar lipids, the molecular species of triacylglycerols, and the relative composition of phospholipids in their milk. A dietary assessment was conducted with a five-day dietary record (while considering the intake of supplements). We highlight the following results, expressed as the mean (SE), for the Veg vs. Donors: (1) Their docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake was 0.11 (0.03) vs. 0.38 (0.03) g/day; the plasma DHA was 0.37 (0.07) vs. 0.83 (0.06)%; and the milk DHA was 0.15 (0.04) vs. 0.33 (0.02)%. (2) Their milk B12 levels were 545.69 (20.49) vs. 482.89 (4.11) pM; 85% of the Veg reported taking B12 supplements (mean dose: 312.1 mcg/day); and the Veg group showed no differences with Donors in terms of total daily intake or plasma B12. (3) Their milk phosphatidylcholine levels were 26.88 (0.67) vs. 30.55 (1.10)%. (4) Their milk iodine levels were 126.42 (13.37) vs. 159.22 (5.13) mcg/L. In conclusion, the Vegs’ milk was shown to be different from the Donors’ milk, mainly due to its low DHA content, which is concerning. However, raising awareness and ensuring proper supplementation could bridge this gap, as has already been achieved for cobalamin.

The influence of the diet and nutritional status of milk donors on the nutritional composition of donor human milk (DHM) is unknown. The present study aimed to determine the nutritional profile of DHM and the associations between donors’ dietary intake and nutritional status and the micronutrient and lipid composition in DHM. For this purpose, 113 donors completed a food frequency questionnaire, provided a five-day weighed dietary record, and collected milk for five consecutive days. Nutrient determinations in donors’ erythrocytes, plasma, urine, and milk were performed. Multiple linear regressions were conducted for the evaluation of the associations. We highlight the following results: DHM docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was positively associated with donors’ plasma DHA content and donors’ DHA intake (R2 0.45, p < 0.001). For every 1 g/day DHA intake, an increase of 0.38% in DHA content and 0.78% in total omega-3 content was observed in DHM (R2 0.29, p < 0.001). DHM saturated fatty acids were positively associated with erythrocyte dimethyl acetals, plasma stearic acid, trans fatty acids intake, and breastfeeding duration and negatively associated with erythrocyte margaroleic acid (R2 0.34, p < 0.01). DHM cholecalciferol was associated with plasma cholecalciferol levels and dairy intake (R2 0.57, p < 0.01). Other weaker associations were found for free thiamin, free riboflavin, pyridoxal, dehydroascorbic acid, and the lipid profile in DHM. In conclusion, the diet and nutritional status of donors influence the fatty acid profile and micronutrient content of DHM.

Human colostrum is the first milk secreted by the mother after birth and constitutes the ideal food for the newborn, because its chemical composition, rich in immunoglobulins, antimicrobial peptides, growth factors, bioactive lipids, and other important molecules, is perfectly adapted to the metabolic, digestive, and immunological immaturity of the newborn. An incomplete gestational period can affect the maturity of the mammary gland and its ability to secrete milk with the proper composition for the newborn's condition. Previous studies indicate that the mammary gland modulates the profiles of bioactive lipids present in the different phases of lactation from colostrum to mature milk. Given the key role played by the polar lipids (PL) (phospho- and sphingolipids) of the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) in the immune system and cognitive development of the newborn, it is crucial to analyze whether the content and distribution of the PL are affected by gestation period. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the milk fat globule (MFG) and MFGM lipid compositions of human colostrum samples from 20 healthy preterm and full-term mothers. Lipid characterization using chromatographic techniques (gas chromatograph mass spectrometry and HPLC-evaporative light-scattering detection) revealed differences related to length of gestation in the profiles of lipid classes and fatty acid and triacylglyceride contents of colostrum. This comparative analysis leads to noteworthy outcomes about the changing roles of the PL, considering the preterm or full-term condition. We found a lack of correlation of some PL (such as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidylserine) with the delivery term; these could be denoted as structural category lipids. However, sphingomyelin and phosphatidyl-ethanolamine exhibited trends to decrease in full-term colostrum, indicating that in the final stage of pregnancy specific accretion of some PL occurs, which should be denoted as a nutr

Buttermilk (BM) has recently received much attention as a source of milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) due to its high polar lipid (PL) content, which gives it functional properties and health benefits. Nevertheless BM can be obtained from two different technological processes, i) the BM from the butter oil industry (BM1) and ii) BM from the butter manufacture (BM2). Neutral lipids (NL) and PL characterization from both BM and their MFGM isolated fractions have been qualitatively and quantitatively characterized including the individual phospho- and sphingolipids by HPLC-ELSD as well as triacylglycerols (TAG) and cholesterol and FAME by GC-FID. The results revealed that while BM (either from BM1 or BM2) had a PL fraction of 12–16 %, the MFGM isolated fraction contained about 40 % of PL with major presence of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM). Besides, MFGM showed a significant increase in the medium molecular weight TAG and cholesterol and almost two fold amount of PUFA content than BM due mainly to linoleic acid. The results of this study provide deeper information on the lipid composition of BM and MFGM isolated fractions of great importance for the design of dietary supplements with potential beneficial effects on human health.

El calostro humano es la primera leche secretada por la madre después del parto y constituye el alimento ideal para el recién nacido puesto que su composición química, rica en inmunoglobulinas, péptidos antimicrobianos, factores de crecimiento y otras moléculas bioactivas, se halla perfectamente adaptada a su inmadurez metabólica, digestiva e inmunológica. La concentración de dichos factores defensivos es mucho más elevada en el caso del calostro de mujeres con parto prematuro, lo que sugiere el papel biológico clave que desempeña el calostro en la protección del niño durante los primeros días de vida. Pero por otra parte, un período gestacional incompleto también puede afectar a la madurez de la glándula mamaria y a su capacidad para segregar leche con la composición adecuada para la situación del recién nacido. Estudios previos indican que la glándula mamaria modula el perfil de lípidos bioactivos presentes en las distintas fases de la lactancia desde calostro a leche madura. Dado el papel clave que ejercen los lípidos polares (fosfo- y esfingolípidos) de la membrana del glóbulo graso lácteo (MFGM) en el desarrollo cognitivo del recién nacido, resulta interesante analizar si su contenido y distribución se ve afectado por el periodo de gestación. Por ello, el objetivo de este estudio ha sido determinar la composición en lípidos polares y ácidos grasos poliinsaturados de MFGM obtenidas a partir de muestras humanas de calostro de madres pretérmino (edad gestacional <35 semanas) y madres a término (edad gestacional 37-40 semanas). La caracterización lípidica de dicha MFGM mediante técnicas cromatográficas (GC-MS, GC-FID y HPLC-ELSD) reveló diferencias -probablemente relacionadas con la duración del periodo de gestación- en el perfil de clases lipídícas y de ácidos grasos y en el contenido de colesterol de muestras de calostros donados por madres con parto pretérmino o a término.