Human milk glycosaminoglycan composition from women of different countries: a pilot study

Abstract Objective: In this pilot study we report the composition, structure and properties of glycosaminoglycans present in milk samples of various countries and ethnicities. Methods: Fifty samples of human milk were analysed, 10 from east Europe, 10 from North Africa, 10 from Central Africa, 10 from South America and 10 from Asia. Moreover, 30 samples were obtained during the first week and 20 between 8 to 30 days of life. Results: Overall, no significant differences were observed for the qualitative composition of GAGs, mainly chondroitin sulfate, heparan sulfate and hyaluronic acid, comparing the mothers from the various countries and between the 30 milks obtained during the first week and the 20 samples collected thereafter. Moreover, no significant differences in human milk GAGs within the different groups analysed belonging to various counties and ethnicities were observed. Conclusions: These results may be of useful, as in the case of pilot studies with infant formulas enriched with chondroitin su...