Phospholipid Fingerprints of Milk from Humans and Different Animal Species Determined by 31P NMR: Importance for Human Health

Cyrielle Garcia¹, Norbert W. Lutz², Sylviane Confort-Gouny², Patrick J. Cozzone², Martine Armand¹, Monique Bernard²

Phospholipids (PLs) play key roles in signaling pathways, inflammatory processes and lipid digestion. Milk contains PLs as important compounds that likely have positive health effects. We present an optimized ³¹P NMR spectroscopy protocol for comparing PLs in human milk vs. milk from cow, mare and camel, based on milk extracts. 12 PL classes were quantified, 6 of which were rather concentrated. Camel milk was particularly rich in PLs in general and in sphingomyelin and plasmalogens in particular. Thus, in arid countries camel milk appears as a promising dietary source due to the cardioprotective, hepatoprotective and brain protective effects of PLs.