The evaluation of medium-chain and long-chain saturated fatty acid levels in the milk of various species and their potential in cancer prevention

Cancer has become one of the most common and deadliest diseases worldwide, affecting millions of people each year. As a contribution to finding ways how to combat this problem by well balanced nutrition, the current research compared the levels of medium and long-chain saturated fatty acids in the milk of three distinct domestic animal species, including cattle, goats, and horses, intending to identify their potential anti-cancer properties. The study analysed milk samples from three different animal species in Slovenia and Croatia - the Simmental cows, the Saanen goats, and the Lipizzaner mares. The samples were evaluated for their fatty acid profiles, which included five medium-chain fatty acids (caprylic, pelargonic, capric, undecylic, and lauric) and ten long-chain fatty acids (myristic, pentadecylic, palmitic, margaric, stearic, nonadecylic, arachidic, behenic, tricosylic, and lignoceric). By analysing the fatty acid profiles, the research study aimed to contribute to the development of new nutritional recommendations for cancer and to help improve the lives of those affected by the cancer. The results indicate that milk from different animal species varies in the concentration of medium and long-chain saturated fatty acids. Goat’s milk has a high concentration of caprylic acid that may help prevent certain cancers (colorectal, skin, and breast cancer), whereas cow’s milk has more capric and lauric acid that can have beneficial effects against cancer. All three species have high concentrations of long-chain fatty acids (myristic, palmitic, and stearic acid), with cow’s milk having the highest value. These fatty acids have potential benefits in the prevention of diverse types of cancer (leukemia, prostate cancer, gastric cancer, and breast cancer). Therefore, consumption of milk, especially cows’ milk, may offer some protection against cancer prevalence.