Fatty acids in mature human milk of Pakistani mothers of malnourished children compared with Dutch controls
| Pakistani (n = 8) | Dutch (n = 25) | |||
| ω3 series | ||||
| 18:3ω3 | 0.34 | (0.28–0.51)1-150 | 1.12 | (0.64–2.19) |
| 20:5ω3 | 0.02 | (0.01–0.09)1-153 | 0.05 | (0.00–0.29) |
| 22:5ω3 | 0.05 | (0.04–0.14)1-151 | 0.13 | (0.09–0.22) |
| 22:6ω3 | 0.06 | (0.04–0.14)1-151 | 0.14 | (0.10–0.65) |
| sumω3 | 0.53 | (0.37–0.64)1-150 | 1.45 | (0.90–2.54) |
| LCPUFAω3 | 0.13 | (0.09–0.29)1-151 | 0.32 | (0.23–1.17) |
| ω6 series | ||||
| 18:2ω6 | 8.73 | (7.45–10.61)1-151 | 13.84 | (6.44–27.69) |
| 18:3ω6 | 0.05 | (0.03–0.12)1-152 | 0.10 | (0.06–0.19) |
| 20:2ω6 | 0.15 | (0.14–0.17)1-150 | 0.25 | (0.18–0.37) |
| 20:3ω6 | 0.21 | (0.15–0.36)1-151 | 0.29 | (0.18–0.43) |
| 20:4ω6 | 0.26 | (0.20–0.44)1-153 | 0.33 | (0.24–0.43) |
| 22:4ω6 | 0.06 | (0.04–0.08) | 0.06 | (0.04–0.08) |
| 22:5ω6 | 0.02 | (0.00–0.04) | 0.02 | (0.00–0.04) |
| sumω6 | 9.35 | (8.22–11.69)1-151 | 14.80 | (7.40–28.97) |
| LCPUFAω6 | 0.69 | (0.57–0.96)1-151 | 0.96 | (0.77–1.22) |
Data represent median (range), and are expressed in mol% (mol/100 mol). Duration of lactation: Pakistan (median 12.5; range 4.5–21 months); Netherlands (mean 89; range 77–103 days).
↵1-150 p < 0.0001;
↵1-151 p < 0.005;
↵1-152 p < 0.001;
↵1-153 p < 0.05.
LCPUFA, long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (C ⩾ 20, at least three double bonds).