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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #91540
Title: QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF HUMAN MILK PRODUCED BY WOMEN CONSUMING A MAIZE- PREDOMINANT DIET TYPICAL OF RURAL MEXICO

Author
item VILLALPANDO, SALVADOR - CENTRO MEDICO NACIONAL
item Butte, Nancy
item FLORES-HUERTA, SAMUEL - CENTRO MEDICO NACIONAL
item THOTATHUCHERY, MARY - BAYLOR COLL MEDICINE

Submitted to: Nutrition and Metabolism
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/8/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: We compared the composition of the breast milk produced by women on a typical, rural Mexican diet with that of milk secreted by American women on a diet typical of affluent countries. We measured concentrations of free fatty acids, cholesterol, total amino acids and certain key minerals at 4 or 6 months after the women gave birth. The concentration of total milk fat twas lower, while that of cholesterol was higher, in the Mexican women. We also found differences in amino acid and mineral levels between the two groups. We do not believe that the differences in fatty acid and amino acid patterns and mineral content are apt to affect infant growth. However, they may have other biological effects of which we are currently unaware.

Technical Abstract: The milk composition of women on a typical rural Mexican diet was compared with that secreted by American women, consuming a diet typical of affluent countries. Milk concentrations of free fatty acids, cholesterol, total amino acids, and selected key minerals were analyzed at 4 or 6 months postpartum. The total milk fat concentration was lower in the Otomi (22.7 +/- 6.7 mg/g milk) than in the American women (31.3 +/- 5.4 mg/g milk, p=0.001). Although the absolute concentration did not differ, cholesterol, expressed in terms of total lipid, was higher in the Otomi milk (3.9 +/- 1.1 vs. 3.1 +/- 0.7 mg/g fat, p=0.005). Saturated medium-chain (C10:0- C14:0) and unsaturated intermediate-chain fatty acids (C16:1 and C18:2) were higher in the Otomi than in the American milk (p<0.03). The concentrations of C16:0, C18:0, and C18:1 were significantly lower in Otomi than in American milk. The milk concentrations of protein and nonprotein nitrogen were comparable between the two groups. The concentrations of serine, proline, cystine, methionine, and tryptophan were higher in the Otomi than in the American milk (p<0.05-0.001). The concentrations of valine and isoleucine were significantly lower in the Otomi milk (p=0.05). Expressed per gram of milk protein, the cystine, methionine, lysine, and tryptophan concentrations were higher, and the glutamine/glutamate, valine, isoleucine, and arginine levels were lower in the Otomi milk. The concentrations of phosphorus and copper were lower in the Otomi than in the American milk at 4 months postpartum (p=0.05). These differences in milk fatty acid and amino acid patterns and mineral content are unlikely to affect infant growth, but may have other biological consequences yet to be ascertained.