Cyrielle Garcia1, Norbert W. Lutz2, Sylviane Confort-Gouny2, Patrick J. Cozzone2, Martine Armand1, Monique Bernard2
1UMR INSERM UF476/INRA1260, Universit Aix-Marseille, Facult de Mdecine, Marseille, France; 2CRMBM UMR CNRS 6612, Universit Aix-Marseille, Facult de Mdecine, Marseille, France
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.