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Trans Fatty Acids in Human Milk are an Indicator of Different Maternal Dietary Sources Containing Trans Fatty Acids

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Lipids

Abstract

The trans fatty acid (TFA) patterns in the fats of ruminant meat and dairy products differ from those found in other (processed) fats. We have evaluated different TFA isomers in human breast milk as an indicator of dietary intake of ruminant and dairy fats of different origins. Breast milk samples were collected 1 month postpartum from 310 mothers participating in the KOALA Birth Cohort Study (The Netherlands). The study participants had different lifestyles and consumed different amounts of dairy products. Fatty acid methyl esters were determined by GC-FID and the data were evaluated by principal component analysis (PCA), ANOVA/Post Hoc test and linear regression analysis. The two major principal components were (1) 18:1 trans-isomers and (2) markers of dairy fat including 15:0, 17:0, 11(trans)18:1 and 9(cis),11(trans)18:2 (CLA). Despite similar total TFA values, the 9(trans)18:1/11(trans)18:1-ratio and the 10(trans)18:1/11(trans)18:1-ratio were significantly lower in milk from mothers with high dairy fat intake (40–76 g/day: 0.91 ± 0.48, P < 0.05) compared to low dairy fat intake (0–10 g/day: 1.59 ± 0.48), and lower with strict organic meat and dairy use (>90% organic: 0.92 ± 0.46, P < 0.05) compared to conventional origin of meat and dairy (1.40 ± 0.61). Similar results were obtained for the 10(trans)18:1/11(trans)18:1-ratio. We conclude that both ratios are indicators of different intake of TFA from ruminant and dairy origin relative to other (including industrial) sources.

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Abbreviations

TFA:

trans fatty acids

EFA:

Essential fatty acids

PHVO:

Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils

LCPUFA:

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

FFQ:

Food frequency questionnaire

MDOO:

Meat and/or dairy of organic origin

PCA:

Principal component analysis

SAT:

Saturated fatty acids

MUFA:

Monounsaturated fatty acids

CLA:

Conjugated linoleic acid isomer

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw, the Netherlands), Royal Friesland Foods (the Netherlands), Triodos Foundation (the Netherlands), UDEA organic retail (the Netherlands), Biologica organisation for organic farming and food (The Netherlands), the Consumer Association for Bio-Dynamic Agriculture Zurich (Switzerland), and Johannes Keyenbühl Academy (Switzerland).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146, Hamburg, Germany

    A. Mueller & H. Steinhart

  2. Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    C. Thijs

  3. Research Department, Paracelsus Hospital Richterswil, Bergstrasse 16, 8805, Richterswil, Switzerland

    L. Rist & A. P. Simões-Wüst

  4. Louis Bolk Institute, Hoofdstraat 24, 3972 LA, Driebergen, The Netherlands

    M. Huber

Authors
  1. A. Mueller
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  2. C. Thijs
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  3. L. Rist
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  4. A. P. Simões-Wüst
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  5. M. Huber
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  6. H. Steinhart
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Correspondence to A. Mueller.

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Mueller, A., Thijs, C., Rist, L. et al. Trans Fatty Acids in Human Milk are an Indicator of Different Maternal Dietary Sources Containing Trans Fatty Acids. Lipids 45, 245–251 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-010-3390-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-010-3390-7

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