Comparison of mature breast milk fatty acid compositions in obese and non-obese mothers

The aim of this study was to compare the fatty acid composition of foremilk and hindmilk at obese and normal weight mothers. Additionally, we were aimed to investigate the relationship between the effects of maternal diet, breast milk fatty acid composition and newborn's anthropometric measurements. 20 obese and 20 normal weight mothers whose babies were 40 to 70 days old and only fed with breast milk were included to the study. The study was conducted in Ankara Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları Hematoloji Onkoloji Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi. A questionnaire was applied to mothers about their general characteristics and nutritional habits. Anthropometric measurements of mothers and babies were taken. 5 ml of foremilk and 5 ml of hindmilk were collected from the mothers. In normal weight and obese mothers, saturated fatty acids were 37.69±5.10% and 36.94 ± 5.19% (p=0.638); monounsaturated fatty acids were 30.44±3.72% and 33.08±5.29% (p=0.185); polyunsaturated fatty acid were 28.65±5.52% and 26.53±4.66% (p=0.213) respectively. DHA (p=0.044) and total n-3 fatty acids (p=0.045) in foremilk were significantly higher in mothers with normal body weight compared to obese mothers. Total n-3 fatty acid in the foremilk samples and n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio in hindmilk samples were significantly higher (p<0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between EPA in the hindmilk and total n-3 in maternal diet (r=0.454; p=0.045). As a result of this study, it was determined that the fatty acid composition of breast milk of obese and non-obese mothers could be different. Keywords: Breast milk, fatty acids, maternal obesity, maternal diet.