NEW DATA ON CONTENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF GANGLIOSIDES IN HUMAN-MILK

The content and distribution of gangliosides, and total lipid content, were studied in human milk samples from different periods of lactatio n. We found a significant correlation (r = 0.5564; p = 0.0165) between ganglioside and total lipid contents. There was a selective change in the relative concentrations of G(D3) and G(M3) during lactation. The most abundant ganglioside in samples from the first three weeks of lac tation was G(D3), whereas after the first month, G(M3) was the major g anglioside. In addition to G(D3) and G(M3), previously known to be pre sent in human milk, we detected several previously unreported highly p olar gangliosides.