Abstract

The first months of infant life are crucial for proper neurodevelopment, which may be influenced by several factors, including nutrition and nutrients (e.g., long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC PUFA) and carotenoids) of which the concentration in breastmilk is diet-dependent. This study analysed the relationship between the average concentrations of selected LC PUFA and carotenoids in breastmilk samples from the first and third months of lactation and the psychomotor development of exclusively breastfed infants at the sixth month of life. Infant psychomotor development was assessed using the Children Development Scale (DSR). The average age of infants during the assessment was 6.6 ± 0.2 months and 30.9 ± 3.8 years for mothers (n = 39 mother–infant pairs). The average concentration of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was 0.50% of fatty acids. The average concentration of carotenoids was 33.3 nmol/L for β-carotene, 121 nmol/L for lycopene and 33.3 nmol/L for lutein + zeaxanthin. The total results of the Performance scale and Motor subscale were 39 centiles and 4.1 points, respectively. Adjusted multivariate regression models revealed associations between breastmilk DHA and motor development (β = 0.275; p ≤ 0.05), α-linolenic acid (ALA; β = 0.432; p ≤ 0.05), n-3 LC PUFA (β = 0.423; p ≤ 0.05) and β-carotene (β = 0.359; p ≤ 0.05). In addition, an association between the Perception subscale and DHA was observed (β = 0.316; p ≤ 0.05; model 2). There were no significant associations between the overall Performance scale scores. Due to the positive association between concentrations of n-3 LC PUFA (ALA and DHA) and β-carotene in breastmilk and infant motor development, it is important to provide these nutrients with breastmilk. According to the diet-dependent concentration of these compounds in breastmilk, breastfeeding mothers should have a diet abundant in dietary sources of these nutrients, e.g., fish, nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, vegetables and fruits.

Highlights

  • Breastfeeding influences infant development and future health

  • A positive association was found between the concentration of several long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC PUFA)

  • It was found that a concentration of n-3 LC PUFA, ALA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in breastmilk during the first three months of life is associated with better motor development at the sixth month of life even after an adjustment for confounders

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Summary

Introduction

Breastmilk should be the only food in the first six months of life, which supplies all essential nutrients and bioactive factors [1,2]. Breastfeeding is linked to positive health outcomes in mothers and infants and to positive cognitive outcomes in infants [3]. The associations between breastfeeding and neurodevelopment are dose-dependent (both for exclusivity and the duration of breastfeeding) and stronger in preterm infants. This link is observed in both developing and developed countries [4,5,6,7,8,9]. The results are still inconclusive [18,19,20,21,22]

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