Influence of organic diet on the amount of conjugated linoleic acids in
breast milk of lactating women in the Netherlands

 Volume 97 
 Issue 04 - Apr 2007 

Lukas Rista1 et al.

The aim of the present study was to find out whether the incorporation of
organic dairy and meat products in the maternal diet affects the contents of
the conjugated linoleic acid isomers (CLA) and trans-vaccenic acid (TVA) in
human breast milk. To this purpose, milk samples from 312 breastfeeding
mothers participating in the KOALA Birth Cohort Study have been analysed.
The participants had documented varying lifestyles in relation to the use of
conventional or organic products. Breast milk samples were collected 1 month
postpartum and analysed for fatty acid composition. The content of rumenic
acid (the main CLA) increased in a statistically significant way while going
from a conventional diet (no organic dairy/meat products, 0·25 weight %
(wt%), n 186) to a moderately organic diet (50-90 % organic dairy/meat,
0·29 wt%, n 33, P = 0·02) and to a strict organic diet (>90 % organic
dairy/meat, 0·34 wt%, n 37, P ? 0·001). The levels of TVA were augmented
among the participants with a moderately organic diet (0·54 wt%) and those
with a strict organic diet (0·59 wt%, P ? 0·001), in comparison with the
conventional group (0·48 wt%). After adjusting for covariables (recruitment
group, maternal age, maternal education, use of supplements and season),
statistical significance was retained in the group of the strict organic
dairy users (P < 0·001 for rumenic acid). 

Hence, the levels of CLA and TVA in human milk can be modulated if
breastfeeding mothers replace conventional dairy and/or meat products by
organic ones. A potential contribution of CLA and TVA to health improvement
is briefly discussed.

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