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ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Healthy Body Weight Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #302338
Title: Polyunsaturated fatty acid content is increased in the milk of women with pregnancy associated breast cancer

Author
item QIN, WENYI - University Of Texas Health Science Center
item Raatz, Susan
item ZHANG, KE - University Of North Dakota
item ROSENBERGER, THAD - University Of North Dakota
item SAUTER, EDWARD - University Of North Dakota

Submitted to: Journal of Human Lactation
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/20/2014
Publication Date: 11/1/2014
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/60275
Citation: Qin, W., Raatz, S.K., Zhang, K.K., Rosenberger, T.A., Sauter, E.R. 2014. Polyunsaturated fatty acid content is increased in the milk of women with pregnancy associated breast cancer. Journal of Human Lactation. 30(4) 420-424.

Interpretive Summary: Pregnancy associated breast cancer (PABC) is aggressive and difficult to diagnose. Most assessments of FA levels have been performed on blood, with little information on the impact of FA levels in breast milk on PABC risk. We quantified 16 long chain FA and soluble FA synthase (sFAS) enzyme levels from four women diagnosed with PABC, comparing results from the cancer containing to the normal breast. FA concentrations were significantly higher in the cancer containing breast for arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA),as well as total FA. sFAS levels were similar in the cancer containing and normal breasts. Breast milk concentrations of AA, EPA and DPA increased in the cancer containing breast of women withPABC. This increase was not associated with higher sFAS levels.

Technical Abstract: Background: Pregnancy associated breast cancer (PABC) is aggressive and difficult to diagnose. High intake of most types of dietary fat is thought to increase breast cancer risk, however results in humans supporting this premise remain equivocal. Fatty acid (FA) concentrations in the body comprise both dietary intake and endogenous FA production. Most assessments of FA levels have been performed on blood, with little information on the impact of FA levels in breast milk on PABC risk. Objective: Determine if FA concentrations in the milk from women diagnosed with breast cancer while nursing were different in the cancer containing and opposite breast. Methods: We quantified 16 long chain FA and soluble FA synthase (sFAS) enzyme levels from four women diagnosed with PABC,comparing results from the cancer containing to the normal breast. Results: FA concentrations were significantly higher in the cancer containing breast for 20:4n-6 (arachidonic acid, AA), 20:5n-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA) and 22:5n-6 (docosapentaenoic acid, DPA) (p<.05) and trended higher for 16:1n-7, 18:1n-9, 18:2n-6, 18:3n-3, 18:3n-6, 20:1n-9, 20:3n-6, 22:6n-3, as well as total FA, p< .10). sFAS levels were similar in the cancer containing and normal breasts. Conclusion: Breast milk concentrations of AA, EPA and DPA increased in the cancer containing breast of women with PABC. This increase was not associated with higher sFAS levels.