Nutritional and Fatty Acid Profile of Human Milk Samples from District Malakand, Pakistan

Generally, breast milk is the first and complete diet for an infant. It has a pivotal role in determining the growth pattern of the kids. Breast milk has various nutritional ingredients and is a source of energy for the infants. It has a vital role in the development of the immune system. The composition of milk varies with the diet of the mother, environment, and time of feeding. The fatty acid profile and nutritional value of the breast milk of the Malakand district were determined. The fats and protein were determined using the recommended methods by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) and Ward method, respectively while the fatty acid profile was determined through GC-MS. Milk samples were analyzed for proximate composition and from the results the moisture content was 87.69%, ash 0.29%, fats 3.63%, protein 0.94%, and carbohydrate content ware 7.45%. The average fatty acid profiles of milk showed that it is composed of saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) with a concentration of 38.41%, 29.59%, and 14.70%, respectively. In general, both proximate and fatty acid profiles were found slightly different compared to the contents of breast milk in developed countries which may be due to the difference in diet, environment, and socioeconomic status of women in Pakistan.