A comparative study of fatty acids in human breast milk and breast milk substitutes in Kuwait

Specific standards of infant formula lack detailed recommendations about fa tty acids in formula preparations except for linoleic acid [18:2(n-6)]. Man y fatty acids were known to be very important in the development of early l ife. Human breast milk is considered the best model for designing breast mi lk substitutes with the ideal nutritive value. Fatty acid composition of hu man milk obtained from 19 full breast feeding Kuwaiti mothers and in 22 ada pted formulas (breast milk substitutes) was determined by using capillary g as chromatographic technique. Palmitic acid (16:0), and as a consequence, t otal saturated fatty acids were found to be lower in human milk than formul a milk. However, total mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids were found to be higher in human milk than in formula milk. Linoleic acid [18:2(n-6)] con tent in formula milk was similar to human milk, while alpha-linolenic acid [18:3,(n-3)] showed a higher percentage in formula milk. Evidently formula milk preparations provide essential fatty acids for infants in adequate amo unts as a results of their fat blend. Formula milk tends to contain lower p ercentages of cis- and trans-isomeric fatty acids compared to human milk. I n contrast to human milk, most formulas lacked physiologically important lo ng-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP). (C) 1999 Elsrvier Science Inc.