Triacylglycerols containing branched palmitic acid ester of hydroxystearic acid (PAHSA) are present in the breast milk and hydrolyzed by carboxyl ester lipase

Kristyna Brejchova (1) , Veronika Paluchova (2, 1) , Marie Brezinova (2, 1) , Tomas Cajka (1) , Laurence Balas (3) , Thierry Durand (3) , Marcela Krizova (4) , Zbynek Stranak (4) , Ondrej Kuda (1)

1 Institute of Physiology [Prague]
2 UK - Univerzita Karlova [Praha, Česká republika] = Charles University [Prague, Czech Republic]
3 IBMM - Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron [Pôle Chimie Balard]
4 Institute for the Care of Mother and Child

Breast milk is a complex mixture containing underexplored bioactive lipids. We performed an observational case-control study to compare the impact of delivery mode: caesarean section (CS) and vaginal birth (VB); and term (preterm and term delivery) on the levels of lipokines in human milk at different stages of lactation. Metabolomic analysis of the milk identified triacylglycerol estolides as a metabolic reservoir of the anti-inflammatory lipid mediator 5-palmitic acid ester of hydroxystearic acid (5-PAHSA). We found that triacylglycerol estolides were substrates of carboxyl ester lipase and 5-PAHSA-containing lipids were the least preferred substrates among tested triacylglycerol estolide isomers. This explained exceptionally high colostrum levels of 5-PAHSA in the VB group. CS and preterm birth negatively affected colostrum lipidome, including 5-PAHSA levels, but the lipidomic profiles normalized in mature milk. Mothers delivering term babies vaginally produce colostrum rich in 5-PAHSA, which could contribute to the prevention of intestinal inflammation in newborns.

Mots clés: Human breast milk; Lipidomics; PAHSA; Colostrum; Elective caesarean section; Preterm birth

Domaines: Physiologie [q-bio.TO]; Biochimie [q-bio.BM]

Kristyna Brejchova, Veronika Paluchova, Marie Brezinova, Tomas Cajka, Laurence Balas, et al.. Triacylglycerols containing branched palmitic acid ester of hydroxystearic acid (PAHSA) are present in the breast milk and hydrolyzed by carboxyl ester lipase. Food Chemistry, 2022, 388, pp.132983. ⟨10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.132983⟩. ⟨hal-03652917⟩