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Maternal and pediatric nutrition

Quantification of breast milk trans fatty acids and trans fat intake by Hong Kong lactating women

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 74, pages 765–774 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives

Diet westernization in Hong Kong may increase trans fat intake, whereas it may decrease intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The present study was to determine the current breast milk fatty acid composition and trans fat intake by Hong Kong lactating mothers.

Methods

Sixty lactating women were recruited for the study. Each participant donated 15 ml of milk at week 4 and 6 after delivery. Dietary data were collected using a 3-day food record method, covering 2 weekdays and 1 weekend day. Milk fatty acids were analyzed using a gas chromatography method. Trans fat consumption was assessed using the Nutrition Data System for Research or calculating the intake based on percentage of trans fatty acids in the breast milk.

Results

Linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid in breast milk were 16.23%, 1.52%, 0.59%, and 0.66% total milk lipids, respectively. Mean daily intakes of total fat, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, were 79, 24, 29, and 18 g, respectively. Total trans fat intake was estimated to be 1.15–1.20 g daily and accounted for 0.50–0.52% total energy.

Conclusions

Breast milk of Hong Kong Chinese lactating women contained relatively higher contents of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids compared with those of Western countries. Compared with the previous study conducted in 1995, breast milk total trans fatty acids in 2018 still remained low. Total trans fat intake by Hong Kong lactating women in 2018 was a half of WHO’s recommendation that total trans fat intake should be <1% total energy.

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Fig. 1: Estimation of trans fat intake by two methods.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) of the Food and Health Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for supporting this research. We would like to thank all mothers who donated milk samples and their participation in this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Food and Nutritional Sciences Programme, School of Life Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Pui Sze Peggy Yip, Ting Fung Judith Chan, Zouyan He, Lai Kwok Leung & Zhen-Yu Chen

  2. Leung Suk Fong Sophie Clinics, Pacific Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

    Suk Fong Sophie Leung

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  1. Pui Sze Peggy Yip
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Contributions

PSPY and TFJC were responsible for collecting the milk samples and conducting the dietary survey. ZH was responsible for carrying out the statistical analyses. LKL and SFSL were responsible for recruiting the lactating mothers. ZYC supervised and led the project.

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Correspondence to Zhen-Yu Chen.

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Yip, P.S.P., Chan, T.F.J., He, Z. et al. Quantification of breast milk trans fatty acids and trans fat intake by Hong Kong lactating women. Eur J Clin Nutr 74, 765–774 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-0604-9

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