From February 2022, all infant formula sold in the European Union must contain docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) at ~0.33%–1.14% of total fat with no minimum requirement for arachidonic acid (ARA). This work examines the association between DHA and ARA levels in human milk, the gold standard for infant feeding. Human milk (n = 470) was collected over 12-weeks postpartum from lactating mothers (n = 100) of infants born weighing <1250 g (NCT02137473). Fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatography. ARA and DHA concentrations were associated in human milk (β = 0.47 [95% confidence interval 0.38–0.56] mol%), including transitional and mature milk, but not colostrum. This remained significant upon adjustment for percentages of other saturated, monounsaturated, n-3, or n-6 fatty acids, day of sample collection, or maternal characteristics (body mass index, ethnicity, education, and income). Infant formulas containing relatively high concentrations of DHA without ARA, as permitted by the new regulations, would not reflect the balance of these fatty acids in human milk.

中文翻译：

---

母乳中二十二碳六烯酸和花生四烯酸水平相关：对欧洲新婴儿配方奶粉法规的影响

从 2022 年 2 月起，在欧盟销售的所有婴儿配方奶粉必须含有占总脂肪约 0.33%–1.14% 的二十二碳六烯酸 (DHA)，并且对花生四烯酸 (ARA) 没有最低要求。这项工作检查了母乳中 DHA 和 ARA 水平之间的关联，这是婴儿喂养的黄金标准。在产后 12 周内从出生体重 <1250 克 (NCT02137473) 的哺乳期母亲 ( n = 100) 中收集人乳 ( n = 470)。通过气相色谱分析脂肪酸。母乳中 ARA 和 DHA 浓度相关（β= 0.47 [95% 置信区间 0.38–0.56] mol%），包括过渡乳和成熟乳，但不包括初乳。在调整其他饱和、单不饱和、n-3 或 n-6 脂肪酸的百分比、样本收集日期或母体特征（体重指数、种族、教育和收入）后，这仍然很重要。在新法规允许的情况下，含有相对高浓度 DHA 而不含 ARA 的婴儿配方食品不会反映母乳中这些脂肪酸的平衡。