Abstract
BackgroundDocosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) that is critically important for the structure, development and function of the retina and central nervous system (CNS), ultimately contributing to improved cognition. It is known that the DHA content of breast milk is positively correlated with maternal DHA intake. Since there is a lack of information about the DHA status of pregnant and lactating women in rural Taiwan. The aims of the present study were to: 1) assess the DHA status of mothers and babies in urban setting, and 2) determine the content of DHA in the milk of nursing mothers.MethodsAll pregnant women who attended the Obstetrics and Gynecology Outpatient Clinic of Kinmen Hospital on Kinmen Island in Taiwan between May 1 and May 30, 2011 were invited by research nurses to enroll in the study. The maternal blood sample was obtained on the day of their delivery. Cord blood was collected by the obstetrician following delivery. Participants were asked to visit the doctor forty-two days after the delivery, at which time a nurse collected breast milk on the day mothers were visiting the doctor for post-natal well-baby check-up.ResultsThe DHA percentages of maternal and neonatal plasma phospholipids were 5.16% and 6.36%, respectively, which are higher than values reported for most populations elsewhere in the world. The DHA percentage for the breast milk of Kinmen mothers was also high (0.98%) relation to international norms. The DHA proportions in maternal and neonatal plasma phospholipids were positively correlated (r = 0.46, p = 0.01).ConclusionsWe show that the DHA status of mothers and newborns on Kinmen Island is satisfactory, thereby providing an evidence-based argument for promoting breastfeeding in Taiwan.
Highlights
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) that can be synthesized to only a limited extent in humans from the essential n-3 fatty acid α-linolenic acid (ALA)
Potential enrollees were ruled ineligible if they had preterm labor and delivery, preeclampsia, gestational or pre-gestational diabetes, other medical complications of pregnancy, or if their newborn weighed less than 2,500 grams
Docosahexaenoic acid accumulates in neural tissues during fetal and early postnatal development [32,33] and is considered an essential fatty acid for both the fetus and newborn infant [34,35]
Summary
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) that can be synthesized to only a limited extent in humans from the essential n-3 fatty acid α-linolenic acid (ALA). Damsgaard and coworkers (2007) conducted a randomized control study and found that the ratio of the INF-γ/IL-10 cytokine profile of infant was higher in mothers who consumed fish oil or olive oil [7]. They concluded that a higher content of LCPUFA in breast milk was associated with enhanced the maturation of the infant’s immune system. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) that is critically important for the structure, development and function of the retina and central nervous system (CNS), contributing to improved cognition. The aims of the present study were to: 1) assess the DHA status of mothers and babies in urban setting, and 2) determine the content of DHA in the milk of nursing mothers
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