A Correlation Study of Docosahexaenoic Acid Intake with Its Levels in Breast Milk in Chinese Lactating Women

Abstract

ObjectivesWe aimed to assess the correlation of DHA intake in a recent month assessed by a tailored iPad‐based electronic food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with breast milk DHA in lactating women residing in coastland (Weihai), lakeland (Yueyang) and inland (Baotou) of China.MethodsA total of 406 lactating women (42±7 days postpartum) were recruited equally from the three regions from May to July 2014. The FFQ comprised three parts: seafood, freshwater food, and DHA milk powder and supplements. Trained staff interviewed women to complete FFQ.ResultsThe median DHA intake was 13.8 (IQR: 6.0–34.1) mg/d. The mean absolute DHA concentration was 141.8±106.4 μg/ml; the mean DHA percentage by weight of total fatty acids was 0.36±0.22. The crude and region‐adjusted Spearman correlation coefficient between DHA intake and the DHA concentrations was 0.33 and 0.30 (p values<0.0001). The crude and adjusted Spearman correlation coefficient for DHA percentages was 0.35 and 0.29 (p values<0.0001). The region‐specific Spearman coefficients were given in Region number of women DHA concentrations DHA percentages Spearman correlation coefficient p value Spearman correlation coefficient p value Weihai 136 0.38 <0.001 0.41 <0.001 Yueyang 135 0.29 <0.01 0.22 <0.05 Baotou 135 0.24 <0.01 0.22 <0.05 The crude and adjusted Pearson coefficients of log‐transformed DHA intake with DHA concentrations were 0.34 and 0.31, and with DHA percentages 0.35 and 0.31(all p values <0.0001). The region‐specific Pearson correlation coefficients were given in Region number of women DHA concentrations DHA percentages Pearson correlation coefficient p value Pearson correlation coefficient p value Weihai 136 0.31 <0.001 0.38 <0.001 Yueyang 135 0.35 <0.001 0.27 <0.01 Baotou 135 0.30 <0.001 0.24 <0.01 ConclusionThe DHA intake is moderately correlated with breast milk DHA, indicating a possibility for using the FFQ to estimate DHA intake in Chinese lactating women.