Fatty Acids in Milk of Marine Little Toothed Whales Stenella attenuata

Abstract

The composition and quantity of free short-chain acids in the milk of whales Stenella attenuata and the composition of short- and long-chain acids in their milk lipids were studied. The content of lipids in the milk was about 19.7%, the Reichert-Meissl value about 6.1, and the content of free short-chain acids about 3.1 meq/l. Acetic, propionic, isobutyric, isovaleric, and n-enanthic acids were usually present in free form. Acetic acid was the most dominant, followed by n-enanthic and isovaleric acids. Other acids were detected in trace amounts. A series of short-chain straight acids from acetic acid to n-capric acid and a series of short-chain branched acids from isobutyric acid to isoenanthic acid were usually detected in milk lipids. Generally, acetic acid was the most abundant, the straight-chain acids from propionic acid to n-capric acid were present in nearly equal amounts, but branched-chain acids were few. Long-chain branched acids in milk lipids were also present only in small amounts. Iso-17: 0 acid showed the maximum concentration among the odd-numbered iso acids and iso-18: 0 acid among the even-numbered iso acids. Few anteiso acids and few iso acids with carbon number lower than 13 were detected. © 1981, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.