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Comparative analysis of the volatile components in Chinese breast milk from three regions

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Abstract

In this study, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) coupled with Partial least squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) was used to analyze the volatiles in Chinese breast milk from different cities (Wuhan, Qingdao and Hohhot) and different lactation stages (colostrum and mature milk). The results showed that breast milk contained 122 volatile substances in 9 major groups, with the largest number of olefins (36) and the highest content of acids. The different volatile compounds of breast milk in three cities were heptanal, 2-pentylfuran, (E)-2,4-decadienal, (E)-2-heptenal, (E)-2-nonenal and 1-octen-3-one, colostrum and mature milk were (E)-2-heptenal, (E)-2-decenal, lauric acid, n-decanoic acid, (E)-2-nonenal and octanoic acid. This study might provide scientific data for the development and optimization of formulas that were more suitable for the health of Chinese infants.

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Acknowledgements

This research work was supported by the Department of Science and Technology of Jiangxi Province (20212BBF63033), China.

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Correspondence to Jing Li.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Ethics Committee of Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University.

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He, Y., Chen, L., Liu, W. et al. Comparative analysis of the volatile components in Chinese breast milk from three regions. Food Sci Biotechnol 32, 903–909 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-022-01235-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-022-01235-4

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