[Science Update] Phospholipid content in Chinese human milk across lactation stages

3 min read /
General Nutrition Obstetrics / Gynaecology Paediatrics
mum-breastfeeding

Phospholipids (PL) are critical for infant growth and neurodevelopment. A part of the Chinese study (the Maternal Nutrition and Infant Investigation) collected 2,270 human milk samples during 0 - 400 days postpartum in 6 regions of China, to determine the major classes of PLs in human milk and their respective levels across lactation stages.

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Subjects and samples

  • Lactating mothers aged between 21 to 44 with a singleton delivery at full term (37 - 42 weeks of pregnancy)
  • 2,270 human milk samples were collected,
    • 259 colostrum milk samples (0 - 5 days postpartum)
    • 254 transitional milk samples (10 - 15 days postpartum)
    • 630 early stage mature milk samples (40 - 45 days postpartum)
    • 576 late stage mature milk samples (200 - 240 days postpartum)
    • 551 prolonged mature milk samples (300 - 400 days postpartum)
       

Results

  • Total PL (TPL) content
    • Referred to the sum of 5 major sub-class PLs: phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM)
    • Median: 170.38 ± 96.52 mg/L – 195.69 ± 81.80 mg/L
    • The concentration was higher in colostrum milk and later lactation stages (after 200 days postpartum) than in samples collected between 10 to 45 days postpartum
    • Distribution of 5 major sub-class PLs varied across different lactation stages
       
  • Variation of TPL concentration over lactation
    • The average TPL level was higher in colostrum (208.95 ± 5.03 mg/L) than that in early stage mature milk (182.47 ± 3.19 mg/L)
    • The average TPL levels were higher in late stage (195.02 ± 3.34 mg/L) and prolonged mature milk (210.50 ± 3.43 mg/L) than that in early stage mature milk (182.47 ± 3.19 mg/L)
       
  • Variation of sub-class PLs concentration over lactation
    • The concentration of PE was much lower (56.26 ± 1.13 mg/L) in early stage mature milk than in other stages
    • The concentrations of PI, PS and PC were relatively higher in colostrum (PI:21.91 ± 0.49 mg/L; PS: 26.61 ± 0.67 mg/L; PC: 52.28 ± 1.20 mg/L) than in other stages
    • The concentration of SM was higher in late stage (53.33 ± 0.88 mg/L) and prolonged mature milk (60.58 ± 0.90 mg/L) than in other stages
       
  • Variation of sub-class PLs concentration over lactation
    • PE: 29.18% - 32.52%
    • SM: 22.39% - 29.17%
    • PC: 19.97% - 25.04%
    • PS: 9.65% - 12.73%
    • PI: 9.61% - 10.65%
       

Conclusion

TPL content in Chinese human milk presented a ‘U’ shape throughout lactation period.  PE, PC, and SM were the dominant types of PLs, accounting for 29% to 33%, 20% to 25%, and 22% to 29% of all PLs across lactation respectively.

Link to the full article:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9030290/pdf/nutrients-14-01539.pdf
 

Reference:

Yang MT et al. Lactational changes of phospholipids content and composition in Chinese breast milk. Nutrients. 2022;14(8):1539.

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WYE-EM-059-MAY-22