Fatty acid profile of breastmilk from mothers with different body mass indexes (BMI) at one and three months postpartum

Abstract

Breastmilk is a dynamic biological fluid, often considered the gold standard of infants’ nutrition. It provides essential nutrients and bioactive components necessary for infant growth and development. Among these, fatty acids play a key role in supplying energy, participating in neurological development, and regulating immune functions. However, metabolic conditions such as overweight/obesity and/or gestational diabetes can influence the synthesis and secretion of fatty acids, potentially affecting the fatty acid profile and infant nutrition. This study aimed to analyze the fatty acid profile from mothers with different body mass indexes (BMI) and/or diabetes at one- and three-months postpartum residing in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, and to evaluate how metabolic conditions and health status affect the relative abundance of fatty acids. Breastmilk samples were collected from mothers at the Hospital Regional Materno Infantil de Alta Especialidad (HRMIAE). Samples were distributed into three experimental groups and analyzed as fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Statistical analysis was performed to test significant differences among experimental groups using ANOVA and non-parametric tests when appropriate. Results showed that both BMI and gestational diabetes significantly affected specific fatty acids, particularly the PUFA group. Fatty acids that presented statistical differences among groups were: C16:0 in month 3 (11.92% NW; 14.76% OW/O; and 8.56% OW/O+D), C18:2 ω-6 in month 1 (22.48% NW; 24.39% OW/O, and 29.57% OW/O+D), and C20:3 ω-6 in month 1 (0.43% NW; 0.39% OW/O, and 0.57% OW/O+D). PUFA in month 1 (30.49% NW, 32.64% OW/O, and 38.57% OW/O+D), as well as ω-6 (24.83% NW, 26.44% OW/O, and 32.38% OW/O+D), LA/ALA ratio (4.63% NW, 4.41% OW/O, and 5.70% OW/O+D), and PUFA/SFA (0.91% NW, 0.96% OW/O, and 1.40% OW/O+D) also presented statistical differences among groups. The findings indicate that maternal metabolic status, in combination with the diet, influences the composition of breastmilk and may have implications for infant nutrition. This research represents the first report, not only of breastmilk fatty acid analysis, but also the first to take into consideration the BMI of the analysis group as well as the presence or absence of gestational diabetes in mothers from Monterrey, providing valuable information for future studies.