Introduction: The variation in the nutrients contained in the milk is the result of changes to the breast metabolism, placenta metabolism and the diet of pregnant women. Various factors influence fatty acid composition which are one of the major components of woman's breast milk. In our research, we wanted to determine the relationship between the components of the diet of and the transitional milk fatty acid composition mothers who delivered healthy full-term babies, preterm and small for gestational age neonates.
Materials and methods: The study group comprised of 95 healthy women who were divided into three sub-groups: mothers of appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates (group A); mothers of preterm neonates (group B); and mothers who gave birth to small for gestational age (SGA) babies (Group C). The women's elements diet and the content of biochemical components were estimated based on the dietary questionnaire. The FAs in the mother's milk were analyzed using GCMS chromatography. The results of the studies of the dietary components and fatty acids of the milk underwent factor analysis.
Results: In group A, 10 correlations (5 positive and 5 negative) were found between the components of the mother's diet and the FAs in the milk (correlation varying from 0.285-0.366). In group B, only negative correlations were observed and these had higher absolute correlation values (0.354-0.500). The most correlations between dietary components and FAs in the milk were found in group C (0.537-0.800).
Conclusion: Nature of the correlations between the variables examined in groups A, B and C are different.