Comparative lipid analysis of colostrum and mature human milk using UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS

Human milk serves as a complete source of nutrients for newborns and is considered an essential food for child development. One of the key nutrients in milk is lipids, which are the primary energy source for infants. This work presents a comparative study of the lipid profiles of colostrum and mature human milk from Brazilian nursing mothers. The analysis utilized the techniques of gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector and ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The predominant fatty acids found in both types of milk were palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid. Furthermore, a lipidomic analysis based on the fatty acids profile identified 48 different lipids, which were classified as glycerophospholipids, glycolipids, and non-esterified fatty acids. When comparing the lipid profiles, colostrum was found to be more nutritious than mature milk in terms of lipid quality. Although the comparison of human milk through lipidomic analysis is not extensively explored in Brazil, this study demonstrated its effectiveness and has the potential to enhance our understanding of lipid absorption processes by the human body.