Fatty acids in milk of Callithrix penicillata: effects of maternal salmon intake and suckling control

Juliana da  Cunha1,  PhD; Teresa Helena Macedo  da  Costa,2    DPhil; Marina Kiyomi  Ito2, PhD; Carlos Alberto

Bezerra Tomaz3,4, PhD

ABSTRACT

Data on milk fatty acid (FA) composition of Callithrix penicillata are limited and the effect of suckling has not been  examined  yet in these  species. In the  present  study we investigate if  milk lipids and  fatty acids  are influenced by diet or suckling. Milk FA of C. penicillata was determined under normal captivity diet (control group,  CG,  n = 3) and  a n-3 FA enhanced diet (4g/d  of salmon for 3d,  experimental group,  EG, n = 3). Milk FA was also examined in sealed and unsealed  glands. The results showed that milk n-3 FA comprised 7% in EG and  0.29%  in CG  (p< 0.02). CG  milk had  71% saturated  FA, where 49% were medium-chain  FA (MCFA). Polyunsaturated   (PUFA) and   monounsaturated  FA (MUFA) accounted   for approximately  26%. A negative correlation  between log transformed MCFA and  MUFA was obtained  (r = -0.082, p = 0.046), suggesting the presence of a reciprocal control between the lipid synthesized endogenously  in the mammary gland  and  the lipids captured  from the plasma.  These results indicate that in C. penicillata n-3 series PUFA were transferred to milk from maternal intake. However, further investigation with large sample is necessary to confirm the reciprocal changes  in milk FA in response to suckling stimulus.

Keywords: milk; n-3 series fatty acid; docosahexaenoic acid; lipids; C. penicillata.