Summary
This observational study examined 628 human milk samples from a Norwegian birth cohort to determine whether maternal prepregnancy BMI influences milk fatty acid and phospholipid composition. Higher maternal prepregnancy BMI was significantly associated with lower n3-LCPUFA content, higher n6/n3 LCPUFA ratios, elevated monounsaturated fatty acids, and increased specific lysophosphatidylcholine species, with prepregnancy BMI explaining up to 40% of variance in the n6/n3 ratio. The findings suggest that maternal body composition may alter lipid metabolic pathways affecting milk quality, though no associations were detected between prepregnancy BMI and overall phospholipid classes.
UK applicability
The findings are potentially applicable to UK maternal and infant health practice, as prepregnancy BMI is a routinely measured maternal characteristic. However, dietary patterns (particularly fish intake, used here as a proxy for n3-LCPUFA) differ between Norwegian and UK populations, which may influence the magnitude of associations observed.
Key measures
Total fatty acids (%FA), choline-containing phospholipid classes (lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin), n3-LCPUFA, n6/n3 LCPUFA ratio, monounsaturated fatty acids, phospholipid species (%LysoPC16:1, %LysoPC18:1)
Outcomes reported
The study measured associations between maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and the fatty acid and phospholipid composition of human milk in 628 samples from a Norwegian birth cohort. Specific lipid metabolites were quantified using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.
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