Human Milk Composition and Dietary Intakes of Breastfeeding Women of Different Ethnicity from the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of New Zealand

Christine A Butts, Duncan I Hedderley, Thanuja D Herath, Gunaranjan Paturi, Sarah Glyn-Jones, Frank Wiens, Bernd Stahl, Pramod Gopal, Christine A Butts, Duncan I Hedderley, Thanuja D Herath, Gunaranjan Paturi, Sarah Glyn-Jones, Frank Wiens, Bernd Stahl, Pramod Gopal

Abstract

Human milk is nutrient rich, complex in its composition, and is key to a baby's health through its role in nutrition, gastrointestinal tract and immune development. Seventy-eight mothers (19⁻42 years of age) of Asian, Māori, Pacific Island, or of European ethnicity living in Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand (NZ) completed the study. The women provided three breast milk samples over a one-week period (6⁻8 weeks postpartum), completed a three-day food diary and provided information regarding their pregnancy and lactation experiences. The breast milk samples were analyzed for protein, fat, fatty acid profile, ash, selected minerals (calcium, magnesium, selenium, zinc), and carbohydrates. Breast milk nutrient profiles showed no significant differences between the mothers of different ethnicities in their macronutrient (protein, fat, carbohydrate, and moisture) content. The breast milk of Asian mothers contained significantly higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and linoleic acids. Arachidonic acid was significantly lower in the breast milk of Māori and Pacific Island women. Dietary intakes of protein, total energy, saturated and polyunsaturated fat, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iodine, vitamin A equivalents, and folate differed between the ethnic groups, as well as the number of serves of dairy foods, chicken, and legumes. No strong correlations between dietary nutrients and breast milk components were found.

Keywords: breastfeeding; composition; diet; ethnicity; human milk.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors, C.A.B., D.I.H., T.D.H., G.P. and P.G. declare no conflict of interest. S.G.-J., F.W., and B.S. provided guidance and support to the presentation and writing of the manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study participant recruitment flow chart.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Spearman’s rank-correlations between mother’s dietary intake and breast milk nutrients. PUFAs, Polyunsaturated fatty acids; DPA, Docosapentaenoic acid; MUFA, Monounsaturated fatty acids; FA, fatty acid; DM, dry matter; DHA, Docosahexaenoic acid; SFA, Saturated fatty acids; and EPA, Eicosapentaenoic acid.

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