Lipidomics analysis reveals regional differences of human milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) composition in Northeast China

The milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) is rich in bioactive lipids essential for infants. Using Hebei as a reference region, this study investigated regional differences in MFGM phospholipid composition in human milk from Northeast China, where dietary patterns vary, including differences in fat sources and seafood intake. The results showed that although significant regional differences were observed in milk fat globule size and zeta potential, the overall microstructure remained largely consistent. Oleic acid (C18:1) was the predominant fatty acid across all regions. Hebei exhibited the highest saturated fatty acid content (48.85 ± 0.07%), whereas Liaoning showed the lowest saturated fatty acids (37.97 ± 0.11%). Phosphatidylcholine (PC) was dominant in Hebei and Liaoning, whereas sphingomyelin predominated in Heilongjiang. Orthogonal projections to latent structures-discriminant analysis identified 69-84 differential phospholipids among regions, with PC contributing most to regional discrimination. Network analysis revealed strong correlations between differential lipids and key hub molecules. These findings also provide a scientific basis for optimizing infant formula.