CONJUGATED LINOLEIC-ACID CONCENTRATIONS OF HUMAN-MILK AND INFANT FORMULA

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is an anticarcinogen found in ruminant products. CLA may also act as a growth promotor in the neonate. Becaus e of the potential importance of CLA to maternal and infant health, CL A concentration was quantified in human milk and infant formula. Human milk samples (n = 14) were collected by complete breast expression, a nd four brands of formula were analyzed; both powder and ready-to-feed products were studied. Although CLA was detected in only 31% of the f ormula samples, it was detectable in all human milk. Concentration of the biologically important isoform (c9,t11) of CLA in human milk range d from 2.23 to 5.43 mg/g fat, that of formula from undetectable to 2.0 4 mg/g fat. Percent total CLA present as c9,t11 ranged from 83 to 100% in human milk and 80 to 100% in formula. Overall, human milk containe d significantly more (P < 0.0001) CLA than did the samples of infant f ormula containing measurable concentrations (3.64 +/- 0.93 vs. 1.35 +/ - 0.81 mg/g fat, respectively). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.