Nutritional relevance of trans isomeric fatty acids in human milk

Trans isomeric fatty acids amount to about 2% of the fatty acid composition of human milk in Europe, whereas lower values were seen in Africa, and higher values were reported for North-America. At least five human studies indicate that trans fatty acids may interfere with the metabolism of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Conclusion: Trans isomeric fatty acids in human milk should be regarded as a potential confounding variable in studies investigating the role of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the development of breastfed infants.