Fatty acid composition of human milk was determined for three consecutive period of lactation: 1) colostrum two to four days postpartum (100 samples); 2) transient milk six to 16 days postpartum (50 samples), and 3) mature milk one to eight months of lactation (16 samples). As compared to mature milk, colostrum is characterized by a lower percentage of short-chain and medium-chain saturated fatty acids and a higher percentage of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Remarkably high levels of the essential fatty acid, linoleic acid, were found in this study (14.6, 16.0 ad 16.4 percent of total fatty acids respectively for each of the three periods considered). These values are higher than those reported for mothers from other countries. The high levels of linoleic acid found in this study unsaturated fatty acids longer than C 20, derived from the essential fatty acids linoleic and linolenic, constitute between 5 and 6 percent of the total fatty acids. Human milk, therefore, is an excellent source of essential fatty acids and their polyenoic derivatives, which are needed for the development of the nervous and vascular systems during the first months of life.

Brain↗

PubMed1981

[Cholesterol content and distribution in cord blood plasma (author's transl)].

Mean concentration of total cholesterol, measured in 156 samples of cord blood plasma, determined according to the method of Huang et al. was 70.5 mg./dl. (SD +/- 14.7). This value is comparable to that obtained by other authors in different countries. Concentration of cholesterol corresponding to the high density lipoprotein (HDL) was measured by precipitating with Heparin and Mn++, in 141 samples of cord blood plasma. Mean concentration was 31.2 mg. of HDL-cholesterol per dl of plasma (SD +/- 9.0). This value represents 45.5% (SD +/- 13.0) of total cholesterol, and it is also similar to that reported by others. These results indicate, therefore, that total cholesterol concentration and its distribution among the lipoprotein fractions are practically the same for all the population samples so far examined.

Cholesterol↗

PubMed1979

[Energy metabolism of the brain in children (author's transl)].

Oxygen consumption of the human brain is of the order of 3,5 ml./minute. Since the brain of a 70 Kg. man has a weight of 1,400 g., its total oxygen consumption is close to 50 ml./minute. Thus, whereas the brain weight accounts only for about 2 percent of the body weight its oxygen consumption accounts for some 20 percent of the resting energy metabolism (BMR) of the body. Measurements in animals of different size indicates that the oxygen consumption of the mammalian brain, per unit of weight, is practically independent of body size. Accordingly, the above figure can be used to make an estimate of the fraction of BMR accounted for by the energy metabolism of the brain, in different species. The proportion of brain weight to total body weight changes during the period of growth. The brain of a new-born baby represents some 10 to 11 percent of the total body weight. Therefore, in spite of the fact that the BMR/Kg. is higher in the infant, the fraction of BMR accounted for by the metabolism of the brain, is expected to be higher in the infant and child than in the adult. The calculations presented in this paper show that the energy metabolism of the brain may account for about 50 percent of the BMR in the new-born. As indicated by our calculations the proportion of BMR accounted for by the energy metabolism of the brain decreases with age, but it still accounts for about 30 percent of the BMR at age 12 years. Our calculations also show that much of the decrease of BMR/Kg. that takes place during infancy and childhood, is due to the decrease in the proportion of brain weight to total body weight. Undernourished children tend to have higher brain weight, relative to total body weight, than eutrophic children. It has been proposed, that this fact could explain the high BMR observed in malnourished children during nutritional rehabilitation.

Adult↗

PubMed1979

[Nutritional factors in obesity, diabetes and arteriosclerosis].

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Arteriosclerosis↗