Docosahexaenoic Acid in Breast Milk Reflects Maternal Fish Intake in Iranian Mothers (original) (raw)

The Effects of Fish Oil Supplementation in Pregnancy on Breast Milk Fatty Acid Composition Over the Course of Lactation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Pediatric Research, 2007

This study evaluated the longitudinal effect of fish oil in pregnancy on breast milk fatty acid composition and infant outcomes. In a randomized, controlled trial, 98 women received 2.2 g docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 1.1 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or olive oil from 20 wk of gestation until delivery. Fatty acid composition in breast milk (at 3 d, 6 wk, and 6 mo) and infant erythrocyte membranes (at 1 y) were determined by gas liquid chromatography. Breast milk fatty acids were examined in relationship to growth and development. Compared with control group, breast milk from women who received fish oil had proportionally higher DHA and EPA levels at 3 d and 6 wk after delivery, but this difference was no longer apparent by 6 mo. Infant DHA status at 1 y of age was directly related to DHA levels at 3 d, 6 wk, and 6 mo postpartum (but not to antenatal supplementation). Both EPA and DHA in breast milk were positively correlated with Griffith's developmental scores including hand and eye coordination. Thus, supplementation in pregnancy was associated with increased n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) in breast milk, particularly in early lactation, and this was positively associated with infant DHA status at 1 y.

A study on lipid content and fatty acid of breast milk and its association with mother's diet composition

Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 2012

The aim of our study was to determine the content of fat and fatty acid composition of breast milk, and its association with the mother's diet. This cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant mothers who came to health care centers for last prenatal care in Isfahan, Iran. Eight to 72 hours after delivery, 2 to 5 ml of colostrum was collected by hand into tubes. They were kept in an ice box and sent within half an hour to the collaborating health centre for freezing at -20°C until analysis, which was performed at the laboratory of NNFTRI in Tehran. The milk samples were homogenized by Vortex (Heidolph Vortex Shaker REAX 1. 220 V. 30 W Germany) at 2400 rpm for 30 sec. The data of 86 out of 91 samples were complete. The mean maternal age and gestational age was 28.37 ± 5.55 years old and 38.7 ± 1.2 weeks, respectively. The content of fat was 2.17 ± 1.22 g/100 ml breast milk. Arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) and docosohexaanoic acid DHA (22:6n-3) made 0.8 ± 0.4% and 0.3 ± 0.2%...

Fatty acid composition in breast milk from 4 regions of Thailand

Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet, 2008

BACKGROUND DHA contents in breast milk varied upon maternal dietary intakes. OBJECTIVE To study DHA contents in breast milk in Thai lactating women from four diferent regions of Thailand. MATERIAL AND METHOD 20 mL of hind milk from 40 lactating women from Bangkok, Chantaburi, Tak, and Surin were collected and analyzed for fatty acids contents by gas chromatography Dietary intake of lactating women after delivery until the present study was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire. Then, the average DHA intake was estimated from the diets by using the reference data. RESULTS DHA contents in breast milk of mothers from Surin were higher than those from other areas. There were no correlations between history of DHA intake and DHA contents in breast milk. CONCLUSION DHA contents in breast milk vary from region to region of the country. Local dietary intake and genetics might explain this contrast.

Maternal and umbilical fatty acid status in relation to maternal diet

Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 2002

The aim of this study was to describe the dietary fat intake during pregnancy and to study the relationship between the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and the fatty acid composition of maternal and umbilical plasma phospholipids (PLs) and cholesterol esters (CEs) at delivery.In addition, the contribution of food groups to the intake of total fat and fatty acids in the diet was quantified. Maternal and umbilical blood samples were collected at delivery from 30 healthy pregnant women. The women completed a food frequency questionnaire during the first and third trimesters.The total fat intake during pregnancy is 85 (SD 24) g/day. The mean intake of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) is 33.4 g/day, of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) 28.6 g/day and of PUFA 15.2 g/day. Major sources of fat, MUFA and PUFA are fats, oils and sauces. Major sources of SFA are meat and poultry followed by cheese and eggs. Meat and poultry contribute the most to the intake of 20:4n-6 whereas fish is the major source of 20:5n-3 (EPA) and 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) in the diet. Linoleic acid, EPA and DHA (w%) in PL of maternal plasma are positively related to the intake of these fatty acids during pregnancy. No association is found between the maternal intake of the two parent essential fatty acids (18:2n-6 and18:3n-3) and their fraction in umbilical PL or CE. EPA and the sum of n-6 fatty acids (w%) in umbilical plasma PL are positively correlated with the dietary intake of these fatty acids.

Dietary Determinants of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA) Status in a High Fish-Eating Cohort during Pregnancy

Nutrients, 2018

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are essential for neurodevelopment and the developing foetus depends on an optimal maternal status. Fish is a rich source of PUFA. The current study investigated dietary patterns, and associations with PUFA status in a high-fish consuming cohort of pregnant women in the Seychelles. At 28 weeks' gestation, pregnant women provided a blood sample, from which serum total PUFA concentrations were measured, A Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and Fish Use Questionnaire (FUQ) were also completed. Principal component analysis (PCA) of dietary information identified four patterns. Regression analyses found dietary pattern 2, containing foods traditionally eaten in the Seychelles e.g., fish, fruit and vegetables was positively associated with serum docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (β = 0.134; CI = 0.001, 0.022), and serum total -3 PUFA (β = 0.139; CI = 0.001, 0.023) concentrations. Dietary pattern 1, high in processed foods, snacks, white meat and eggs, was n...

Fatty acid composition of breastmilk of Israeli mothers

Indian Pediatrics, 2013

We conducted this study to determine the fatty acid composition of breastmilk of Israeli women and compare it with baby milk substitutes. Samples of mature breast milk, from 29 lactating Israeli Jewish mothers were collected during feedings. Total milk lipids extracts were transmethylated and analyzed by using an improved gas-chromatographic method. About 72% of the total fatty acids in the investigated breast milk comprised oleic (18:1c; 31±4%), palmitic (16:0; 21±4%), and linoleic (18:2n-6; 20±4%) acids. Total saturated fatty acids represented 42±7% of total fatty acids. The monounsaturated fatty acids content was 33±5%, of which 94% was oleic acid, and the polyunsaturated fatty acids content was about 24±4%, of which 85% was linoleic acid. The α-linolenic acid level found in this study, 2.0±0.6%, was higher than the range of values reported for the world population (0.10-1.4%). The main fatty acids composition of the milk substitutes has very similar composition to the breast milk. Docosahexaenoic acid levels are particularly low among the population of Jewish nursing mothers in relation to the milk substitutes, containing docosahexaenoic acid in their formulations.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids in maternal plasma and in breast milk

Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 2002

In order to explain processes underlying the transfer of fatty acids from the maternal compartment into human milk, the lipid content and the fatty acid composition of maternal plasma and milk have been analyzed in breastfeeding mothers at1day and 3 months of lactation. The rise in milk lipids occurring during the study period was concomitant with a fall in plasma total fat content, mainly due to the decrease of triglycerides. Significant correlations between plasma and milk fatty acids at the two time points were observed only for linoleic (LA,18:2 n-6) and (a-linolenic acid (aLNA,18:3 n-3), while for arachidonic (AA, 20:4 n-6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) correlations were found only at one day and 3 months, respectively. These data suggest that levels of the n-6 and n-318C polyunsaturated fatty acidsin milk are closely dependent on their concentrations in maternal plasma, in turn related with the dietary intake, while the accumulation of AA and DHA in milk is the result of a sequence of transfer and metabolic processes.

The effects of maternal omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on breast milk fatty acid composition

ACTA Pharmaceutica Sciencia, 2018

Breast milk is the first source of omega-3 fatty acids (FA) for infants. We hypothesized that maternal omega-3 FAs supplementation affects the FA composition of breast milk. Thirtysix women received 950 mg omega-3 polyunsaturated (PUFA) supplementation per day for 9 months from 22-24 weeks of pregnancy until the 6 months of lactation and 26 women were enrolled as controls. Demographic data and nutritional status were taken by a questionnaire. Breast milk samples were collected at just after birth and 6 months of lactation. Fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Data was assessed using SPSS 22.0 software. The supplementation increased the level of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) while decreased the level of saturated fatty acids (SFA) in breast milk. The ratio of omega-6/omega-3 FAs was also decreased in the supplemented mothers' milk. In conclusion the maternal supplementation of omega-3 FAs improved the DHA and EPA levels.