SFP P-082 – Brain DHA protection by dairy-fat of rats born from omega3-deficient or omega3-rich mothers

Abstract

DHA is the major brain FA and omega-3 deficiency during gestation/lactation have dramatic health impact later in life. 1/Impact of deficient or ALA-rich diets during gestation/lactation on the brain DHA levels of post-weaning young-rats; 2/Specific impact of dairy-fat matrix compared to rapeseed on brain DHA levels in young-rats born from ALA-deficient or ALA-rich-dams. Two groups of dams were fed during gestation/lactation with either a deficient-ALA-palm or a protective-ALA-rich rapeseed diet. After weaning, 3groups of males born from ALA-deficient and ALA-rich-dams received 6week-diets: (i)ALA-deficient-palm(0.4%), (ii)ALA-low-dairy-fat(0.8%), (iii)ALA-rich-rapeseed(8%). New-born and weaning pups born from ALA-deficient-dams had brain DHA levels 2 times lower than those from ALA-rich. ALA-rich diet during gestation/ lactation is protecting against post-weaning deficiency. Dairy-fat, despite 10times less ALA than rapeseed, is as efficient to restore brain DHA level in deficient-rats and to maintain similar levels for those born from ALA-richdams. The same low n6/n3ratio in these two type of fats (2.3 while 21 for palm) and the complexity of the composition of dairy fat could be part of their protective effect. Partially granted by Lactalis