Variations in Oligosaccharides and Lactose in Human Milk During the First Week of Lactation

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Abstract
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-N-tetraose 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.