Charles T. L. Huang

Free fatty acids in the development of breast milk jaundice.

The incubation of milk, at 4 degrees C, from mothers of infants with breast milk jaundice (BMJ) is reported to result in significantly higher levels of free fatty acids (FFA) compared with milk from controls. Single milk samples collected under standard conditions were obtained from four mothers of infants with BMJ and 14 control donors matched for stage of lactation. Milk samples were analyzed for the concentrations of FFA, using thin-layer gas chromatographic techniques. In addition, serum total fatty acids were measured in mothers and infants. The concentrations of FFA increased after storage of the milk from both the jaundiced and control groups. No differences were observed in the composition of milk FFA before or after incubation, when respective values were compared between these two groups. Similarly, no differences were detected in serum total fatty acids in either infants or mothers. The observation that increased levels of FFA in milk are associated with BMJ was not confirmed.

Biohydrogenation of cholesterol as an index of bacterial 7α-dehydroxylase activity

Fecal steroid compositions of 82 human subjects of various ages and diets and gastrointestinal status were examined by gas liquid chromatography. Progressive increases in bacterial activities on both bile acids and neutral sterols were observed with the advance of age in infants and children. The patterns in the 4-year-olds approached those observed in adults. Bacterial activites on fecal steroids were found to be decreased in adult subjects with acute shigellosis and in those challenged by castor oil. In contrast, no significant changes in fecal steroid profiles were observed in the subjects with travellers diarrhea assoicated with toxigenicEscherichia coli. The effects of diarrhea on fecal steroids of infants under 11/2 years were less consistent than those of adults. However, a close relationship was observed between the degree of 7α-dehydroxylation of cholic acid (expressed as the ratio of deoxycholic to the sum of deoxycholic and cholic acids) and the percentage of cholesterol in the feces (r= 0.921, p<0.001). The correlation between the production of lithocholic acid and the percentage cholesterol was also good (r=−0.739, p<0.001). Analysis of neutral steroids may be a good index of intraluminal bile acid metabolism.

569 FREE FATTY ACIDS (FFA) IN BREASTMILK JAUNDICE (BMJ)

The incubation, at 4°C, of milk from mothers of infants with breastmilk jaundice is reported to result in significantly higher levels of free fatty acids compared to milk from controls. Single milk samples collected under standard conditions were obtained from 4 mothers of infants with BMJ and 14 control donors matched for stage of lactation. Milk samples were analyzed for FFA using thin layer-gas chromatographic techniques. In addition serum total fatty acids were measured in mothers and infants. As summarized in the table, no differences were observed in milk FFA concentrations before or after incubation in control and experimental samples. Similarly, no differences were detected in total serum fatty acids in either infants or mothers.Analysis of milk showed no differences in FFA composition between groups. The observation that increased FFA levels in milk or increased lipase activity is associated with breastmilk jaundice was not confirmed.