Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 8(3), pp. 82 - 98
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2020.080302
Reprint (PDF) (686Kb)

An Investigation on the Fatty Acid Content of Breast Milk from Mothers Residing in Low Socioeconomic Areas of Egypt

Laila Hussein ^1,*, Mahmoud. Ali Mohammad ², K. S. Kuhn ³, Peter Furst ^3
1 Department of Nutrition, National Research Center, Egypt
² Baylor College of Medicine, Pediatrics-Nutrition, 100 Bates Street, Houston TX77030, United States
³ Institute of Biological Chemistry Nutrition, University of Hohenheim (140), Germany

ABSTRACT

The study was carried on a small sample size of lactating Egyptian mothers from Urban Giza, who gave birth either to full-term or preterm babies. Mature milk was collected manually and was subjected to fatty acid analysis by gas chromatographic technique and the results were expressed as % concentration of total FAs. The results showed the wide mean ratio (30:1) of the essential FA linoleic (16.27 %) to alphalinolenic (α-ALA) (0.5 %) acid concentrations, which exceeds the respective worldwide average (WWA) of 0.32 %. Conclusion: The milks of Egyptian lactating mothers, the only nutrient supply of breast infants is deficient in its DHA. This deficiency may have future adverse effects on learning and scholastic performances. A national strategy is urgently warranted for supplementing pregnant and lactating women with oily fish rich in DHA content to achieve the target 2 of the sustainable development goal2030.

KEYWORDS
Lactating Women, Mature Milk, Fullterm Babies, Preterm Babies, Fatty Acid Concentrations, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Docosahexanoic Acid, Dietary Docosahexnoic Acid

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Laila Hussein , Mahmoud. Ali Mohammad , K. S. Kuhn , Peter Furst , "An Investigation on the Fatty Acid Content of Breast Milk from Mothers Residing in Low Socioeconomic Areas of Egypt," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 82 - 98, 2020. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2020.080302.

(b). APA Format:
Laila Hussein , Mahmoud. Ali Mohammad , K. S. Kuhn , Peter Furst (2020). An Investigation on the Fatty Acid Content of Breast Milk from Mothers Residing in Low Socioeconomic Areas of Egypt. Universal Journal of Public Health, 8(3), 82 - 98. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2020.080302.