VARIATIONS IN OLIGOSACCHARIDES AND LACTOSE IN HUMAN-MILK DURING THE 1ST WEEK OF LACTATION

Variations in oligosaccharides and lactose in human milk were studied in 15 mothers during the first week of lactation. The neuraminyloligosaccharides and heavy neutral oligosaccharides increased slightly from days 2 to 5 postpartum and appeared to decrease until day 7. The lacto-N-difucohexaoses, lacto-N-fucopentaoses, and lacto-AMetraose increased until day 5 and then decreased. Lactodifucotetraose and the fucosidolactoses decreased substantially until day 5 (p < 0.05) and appeared to stabilize in the following days. Lactose increased until day 5 (p < 0.05) and continued to increase thereafter. Lactose was negatively correlated with total oligosaccharides (p < 0.10). The fluctuations observed in total oligosaccharides from days 2 to 5 postpartum and their subsequent stabilization and regular decrease during lactation confirm the hypothesis of Kulski and Hartmann that mammary secretion occurs in three periods: Colostrum for the first 36 h postpartum, transitional milk from days 2 to 5 postpartum, and mature milk after day 5. The oligosaccharide variations we found corresponded to those of other milk constituents observed by other authors. The significance of the oligosaccharide variations is discussed. © 1990 Raven Press, Ltd., New York.