Table 2 Effect of changing fat content of maternal diet on MCFA and LCFA in breast milk (mean ± SEM) (n = 14)^a

Total saturated fatty acids

41.1

0.82

40.40

0.85

0.46

Caprylic acid (C8:0)

Trace

Trace

Capric acid (C10:0)

0.87

0.04

0.68

0.03

0.01*

Lauric acid (C12:0)

5.38

1.16

3.98

0.37

0.01*

Myristic acid (C14:0)

7.31

0.35

6.76

0.48

0.07

Total medium chain fatty acids

13.56

0.66

11.42

0.86

0.01*

Palmitic acid (C16:0)

22.70

0.45

23.43

0.24

0.43

Stearic acid (C18:0)

5.00

0.11

6.08

0.14

0.01*

Arichidic acid (C20:0)

0.08

0.07

0.12

0.01

0.02*

Total monounsaturated fatty acids

38.70

0.80

39.90

0.65

0.10

Myristoleic acid (C14:1n-5)

0.35

0.01

0.41

0.05

0.27

Palmitoleic acid (C16:1n-7)

1.95

0.29

1.31

0.23

0.05 (0.046)*

Oleic acid (C18:1n-9)

36.16

0.86

37.81

0.67

0.08

Eicosenoic acid (C20:1n-9)

0.27

0.02

0.38

0.02

0.01*

Total polyunsaturated fatty acids

16.90

0.66

16.40

0.48

0.54

Linoleic acid (C18:2n-6)

14.65

0.62

13.82

0.45

0.27

α-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3)

1.22

0.04

1.69

0.06

0.01*

γ-linolenic acid (C18:3n-6)

0.12

0.01

0.09

0.01

0.02*

Eicosadienoic acid (C20:2n-6)

0.19

0.02

0.18

0.01

0.51

Dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (C20:3n-6)

0.27

0.02

0.24

0.02

0.03*

Arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6)

0.34

0.01

0.30

0.02

0.02*

Eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n3)

Trace

Trace

Docasapentaenoic acid (C22:5n-3)

Trace

Trace

Docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3)

0.12

0.02

0.14

0.04

0.77