Lactational Changes of Phospholipids Content and Composition in Chinese Breast Milk

Abstract

Phospholipids are pivotal polar lipids in human milk and essential for infants’ growth and development, especially in the brain and cognitive development. Its content and composition are affected by multiple factors and there exist discrepancies in different studies. In this study, we determined five major phospholipids classes (phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, and sphingomyelin) in 2270 human milk samples collected from 0 to 400 days postpartum in six regions of China. The high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with an evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD) was performed to quantify the phospholipids. Total phospholipid median (IQR) content was in a range between 170.38 ± 96.52 mg/L to 195.69 ± 81.80 mg/L during lactation and was higher concentrated in colostrum milk and later stage of lactation (after 200 days postpartum) compared with that in the samples collected between 10 to 45 days postpartum. Variations in five major sub-class phospholipids content were also observed across lactation stages (phosphatidylethanolamine: 52.61 ± 29.05 to 59.95 ± 41.74 mg/L; phosphatidylinositol: 17.65 ± 10.68 to 20.38 ± 8.55 mg/L; phosphatidylserine: 15.98 ± 9.02 to 22.77 ± 11.17 mg/L; phosphatidylcholine: 34.13 ± 25.33 to 48.64 ± 19.73 mg/L; sphingomyelin: 41.35 ± 20.31 to 54.79 ± 35.26 mg/L). Phosphatidylethanolamine (29.18–32.52%), phosphatidylcholine (19.90–25.04%) and sphingomyelin (22.39–29.17%) were the dominant sub-class phospholipids in Chinese breast milk during the whole lactation period. These results updated phospholipids data in Chinese human milk and could provide evidence for better development of secure and effective human milk surrogates for infants without access to breast milk.

Comparative Lipidomic Analysis Reveals the Lactational Changes in the Lipid Profiles of Chinese Human Milk

“…On the contrary, the content of each PL subclass was in the order SM > PE > PC or SM > PC > PE in many previous reports. 3,36,38 In the study of Yang et al, 35 PE (29.18−32.52%) was the dominant PL subclass, followed by SM (22.39− 29.17%) and PC (19.90−25.04%) in Chinese breast milk. Analytical methods, individual differences, and sample sizes all were responsible for the existing discrepancies.…”

“…Except for the GLs, a major component of HM lipid, PLs were pivotal polar lipids biologically and technologically for infants despite the relatively low abundance. 35 Particularly, PLs with LC-PUFAs have been proved to influence the growth, learning behavior, and brain and visual development of neonates. 3 In addition, the composition of PLs was related to the digestion of lipid droplets by governing the lipase activity.…”

Profiling of triacylglycerol composition in the breast milk of Chinese mothers at different lactation stages

“…This study is part of the MUAI (Maternal Nutrition and Infant Investigation) study and was reported previously. 19,20 In summary, subjects in this research were recruited from the obstetrics department of Clifford Hospital, Renxin postnatal care centre and communities in Guangzhou, China, from September to December 2019. Breastfeeding mothers aged between 20 and 35 years with single and full-term delivery were approached.…”

The digestion and absorption characteristics of human milk phospholipid analogs: a combination study between in vitro and in vivo

“…Phospholipids are a class of phosphorus-containing polar lipids that accounts for approximately 1.0% of the total lipids in human milk. 3 Based on the molecular structure of phospholipids, there are two classes of phospholipids, namely, glycerophospholipids (GPLs) and sphingolipids. The four major classes of GPLs in human milk fat are phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), and phosphatidylserine (PS).…”