Acid Composition Of Breast Milk Research Articles

Investigating the Dietary Impact on Trans-Vaccenic Acid (Trans-C18:1 n-7) and Other Beneficial Fatty Acids in Breast Milk and Infant Formulas.

Maternal diet plays a significant role in the fatty acid composition of breast milk. Dietary products such as milk and meat are the primary sources of natural TFAs for humans. These peculiar fatty acids hold nutritional significance as they not only lack the detrimental effects of industrially produced trans fats on the endothelium characteristic, but they also exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. The relationship between the presence of eight fatty acids in breast milk (including natural TFAs trans-vaccenic and conjugated linoleic acid) and the maternal diet has been explored, and their abundance has been compared to that of infant formulas. Two cohorts of lactating women, originating from a Spanish region, participated in this study; they adhered to the Southern European Atlantic diet or the Atlantic diet. While the consumption of conventional meat or dairy products does not seem to increase the abundance of TFAs in breast milk, trans-vaccenic and oleic acid are among the most distinctive features of breast milk fat in mothers consuming naturally improved dairy products with an improved fatty acid profile. The most significant differences between natural breastfeeding and formula feeding lie in natural TFAs, since formulas are notably deficient in natural TFAs while being overfortified in alpha-linolenic acid in comparison to breast milk. We suggest an improvement in the formulation of these products through using cow's milk with an optimal fatty acid profile that better mimics the fatty acid composition found in human milk.

Evaluation of polyunsaturated fatty acids content in the three stages of breast milk: colostrum, transitional and mature milk of a nursing mother submitted to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery two months prior to pregnancy: Case study

The purpose of this case study was to investigate polyunsaturated fatty acids in colostrum, transitional milk and mature milk of a nursing mother attended to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass two months prior to pregnancy. For this, was collected 2ml (colostrum), 4ml (transitional milk) and 4ml (mature milk) samples obtained by manual expression of the breast that was not sucked in the last feeding, in the morning and placed in Eppendorfs-type microtubes. The fatty acid composition was performed by means of gas chromatography. The mean proportions of fat in colostrum, transition milk and mature milk were: eicosapentaenoic acid: 0.06%; 0.05% and 0.06%; docosahexaenoic acid: 0.12%, 0.08% and 0.09%; arachidonic acid: 0.58%, 0.37% and 0.42%, respectively; trans fatty from the industrial process: 0.11%, 0.08% and 0.12% and trans fatty from ruminant sources (0.09%, 0.10% and 0.12%, respectively. The relevance of this case study lies in the fact that it shares knowledge about on the fatty acid composition of breast milk from a nursing mother post Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The mean linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid found in the mature milk was below the means found in studies carried out in Brazil from eutrophic women who did not underwent bariatric surgery. In this study, trans fatty acids were found in maternal milk but considered low values. As a relevant recommendation for future work, it is suggested that research be carried out with a larger population undergoing such a procedure to investigate the composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids in breast milk.

Fatty acid compositions of colostrum and mature breast milk in Turkey (Mardin)

AbstractIn this study, 25–25 milk samples (25 colostral and 25 mature) collected at different lactational stages were used to analyse the fatty acid composition of breast milk. A gas-chromatographic method was used to perform and analyse the transmethylation of total milk lipid extracts. The milk samples contained 20 different fatty acids. Palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), myristic acid (C14:0), oleic acid (C18:1n-9), and linoleic acid (LA, C18:2n-6) were the major components of total lipid, phospholipid (PL), and triacylglycerol (TAG) fractions. Colostrum had a lower percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), a higher percentage of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), and a lower level of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5 n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 n-3) in total lipid than mature milk. Triacylglycerol and PL fractions between colostrum and mature milk samples did not differ statistically.

Dietary omega-3 fatty acid deficiency from pre-pregnancy to lactation affects expression of genes involved in hippocampal neurogenesis of the offspring

Maternal n-3 PUFA (omega-3) deficiency can affect brain development in utero and postnatally. Despite the evidence, the impacts of n-3 PUFA deficiency on the expression of neurogenesis genes in the postnatal hippocampus remained elusive. Since postnatal brain development requires PUFAs via breast milk, we examined the fatty acid composition of breast milk and hippocampal expression of neurogenesis genes in n-3 PUFA deficient 21d mice. In addition, the expression of fatty acid desaturases, elongases, free fatty acids signaling receptors, insulin and leptin, and glucose transporters were measured. Among the genes involved in neurogenesis, the expression of brain-specific tenascin-R (TNR) was downregulated to a greater extent (∼31 fold), followed by adenosine A2A receptor (A2AAR), dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) expression in the n-3 PUFA deficient hippocampus. Increasing dietary LA to ALA (50:1) elevated the ARA to DHA ratio by ∼8 fold in the n-3 PUFA deficient breast milk, with an overall increase of total n-6/n-3 PUFAs by ∼15:1 (p<0.05) compared to n-3 PUFA sufficient (LA to ALA: 2:1) diet. The n-3 PUFA deficient mice exhibited upregulation of FADS1, FADS2, ELOVL2, ELOVL5, ELOVL6, GPR40, GPR120, LEPR, IGF1 and downregulation of GLUT1, GLUT3, and GLUT4 mRNA expression in hippocampus (p<0.05). Maternal n-3 PUFA deficiency affects the hippocampal expression of key neurogenesis genes in the offspring with concomitant expression of desaturase and elongase genes, suggesting the importance of dietary n-3 PUFA for neurodevelopment.

Gas chromatographic determination of fatty acid composition in breast milk of mothers with different health conditions

AbstractHuman milk (HM) of healthy, well-nourished, lactating mothers is a unique and ideal source of nutritive factors, like hormones, cytokines, chemokines, growth factors that ensures the proper growth and development of infants. Among the main components of HM, fat is an important energy source and a regulatory factor. The quality of milk fat depends on its fatty acid (FA) composition. Gas chromatography coupled with flame ionisation detection is one of the most common methods for analysis of the FA profile of HM. The aim of this study was to evaluate the FA composition of HM, collected from mothers with different health conditions (normal Body Mass Index (nBMI); overweight and obese) using GC-FID method. The results showed that saturated FAs were present in the highest amount in the HM samples, of which palmitic acid was the main representative. The major monounsaturated FA was oleic acid, while linoleic acid was the most abundant of the polyunsaturated FAs (PUFA). Overweight and obese women have lower levels of PUFA in their breast milk. The data were subjected to principal component and quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA). QDA classified nBMI and overweight and obese mother milk samples with 88.24% accuracy. Significant differences were found between normal and overweight and obese HM samples in case of C10:0 and C18:3 FAs. Higher maternal BMI was associated with a higher n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio.

Effects of Maternal Exclusion Diet for Infants Suspected Food Allergy on Fatty Acid Composition in Breast Milk

Background: Levels of fatty acid (FA) in breast milk (BM) may vary depending on the maternal diet. This study aimed to explore FA composition in BM of lactating women following dietary restrictions due to infant allergic conditions. Materials and Methods: Thai lactating mothers of term infants who were on exclusion diets were recruited. Mature BM was collected before and after a period (at least 2 weeks) of dietary restriction. FA in BM was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: Fifty lactating women 33.7 ± 3.6 years of age were enrolled. Thirty-three percent of the lactating mothers restricted more than eight food items. Most common dietary restriction were cow's milk (88%) and eggs (74%). After the period of dietary exclusion, total polyunsaturated FA showed no significant change, while saturated FA (SFA) declined, and monounsaturated FA (MUFA) increased. A decrease in fat intake was associated with an increase in arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content in BM (r = -0.37, r = -0.36; p < 0.05). However, a rise in ARA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and DHA intake was associated with an increase in linoleic acid and EPA in BM, respectively (r = 0.38, r = 0.55 and r = 0.41; p < 0.05). Infant weight-for-age z-score did not significantly change after the period of maternal dietary exclusion. Conclusion: Maternal exclusion diet resulted in lower SFA and higher MUFA composition in BM. Further study should explore the long-term outcomes of maternal dietary restriction on infant and child health.

Amyloid fibril formation by casein and fatty acid composition in breast milk of mastitis patients.

Mastitis can cause changes in the nutrient composition of breast milk, which may be harmful to both newborns and lactating mothers. In this study we preliminarily evaluated amyloid fibrils formation by casein and fatty acids (FA), as well as their potential relation with each other in the breast milk of mastitis patients. Six healthy volunteers and six mastitis patients were recruited from the Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital in Changchun were enrolled. Amyloid fibril content was assessed by thioflavin T fluorescence analysis, transmission electron microscope, circular dichroism, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance. FA contents were measured by gas chromatography. Healthy breast milk contained no amyloid fibrils but inflammatory breast milk did. Several FAs (hendecanoic acid, myristolenic acid, pentadecenoic acid, eicosatrienoic acid) differed significantly between the two groups (p < .05). The concentrations of the eicosatrienoic acid and eleven carbonic acids in the inflammatory groups were lower than those in the healthy groups, but the myristolenic acid and pentadecenoic acid were the opposite trend. Early detection of amyloid fibrils should be performed in lactating mothers with mastitis. Changes in FAs may reflect the importance of abnormal metabolism in amyloid fibril formation. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The work preliminarily clarified the relationship between inflammation, fibril content, and fatty acid (FA) composition in breast milk. Healthy milk contained no amyloid fibril formed by casein but the inflammatory milk did. FAs were also significantly different between the two groups. Thus, an early determination of amyloid fibrils in milk should be considered for lactating women with mastitis to avoid the further malignant development. Additionally, the changes in FAs may reflect the importance of abnormal metabolism and oxidative pathways in amyloid fibril formation in the breast. Therefore, this study provided foundations for further investigation on the association between inflammation, fibril content and FA composition in breast milk.

Fatty acid composition of human breast milk across lactational stages in six representative cities in China from 2018 to 2019

To investigate the fatty acid composition in breast milk at different lactation stages in six representative cities of China. From January 2018 to December 2019, milk sampling of 690 healthy lactating mothers(full-term) in 5 lactation periods of 0-5 days, 10-14 days, 40-45 days, 200-240 days and 300-400 days was collected from 6 representative regions in China, with 23 cases of breast milk received in each lactation stage in each city. Mix it into one mixture, and make a total of 30 mixes. Determination of fatty acids in breast milk was conducted by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector. The contents of total fatty acids(TFA), saturated fatty acids(SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids(MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA) in breast milk increased with the progress of lactation and reached a relatively stable level after reaching a peak at 40-45 days. However, the composition ratio of SFA, MUFA and PUFA in TFA remained relatively stable from 0 to 400 days. The ratio of arachidonic to docosahexaenoic(AA/DHA) in breast milk from 0 to 400 days in the six cities ranged from 1.14 to 1.55, and there was no obvious trend of change in the whole lactation stage. The ratio of linoleic acid to alpha-linolenic acid(LA/ALA) in Chinese breast milk ranged from 3.84 to 18.94, showing significant regional variation. The content and composition of fatty acids in breast milk of six cities in China vary to a certain extent and show a dynamic change process with the passage of time of lactation.

Effect of omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on the fatty acid composition of breast milk in the first months of life: a narrative review

Omega-3 long-chain, polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential, so they must be provided through the diet, as their biological synthesis is limited, making it essential to meet their requirements during physiological stages such as pregnancy and lactation. A narrative review was conducted on the effects of omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on the fatty acid composition of breast milk in the first months of life. Eight randomized clinical studies were analyzed, showing a significant increase in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentration in breast milk (BM) post-supplementation, compared to control groups. One study evaluated the dose needed to achieve 8 % DHA in erythrocytes and 1 % DHA in BM, reaching these levels with a supplementation close to 1 g of docosahexaenoic acid + eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Finally, a trial was found that used supplementation with small lipid contributions (0,59 g α-linolenic acid (ALA)), without generating significant changes in the DHA composition of LM, but in the ALA content. Therefore, it is inferred that omega-3 supplementation beneficially modifies DHA and EPA levels in the composition of BM in pregnant women and during the lactation stage, although further studies are needed to identify doses, times, beneficial effects on development, and more efficient forms of delivery of omega-3 supplementation.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DIET QUALITY INDEX IN NURSING MOTHERS AND THE FATTY ACID PROFILE OF MATURE BREAST MILK.

ABSTRACTObjective: To evaluate the relationship between the maternal diet quality and the fatty acid composition of breast milk in the first trimester of lactation.Methods: This is an observational cross-sectional epidemiological study of nursing mothers. The data collection instruments were a semi-structured questionnaire for sample characterization and a recall of usual intake. Diet quality was assessed based on the healthy eating index (HEI). Samples of mature breast milk were obtained by hand milking. Milk fat was extracted using the Bligh-Dyer method and methylated with 0.25 mol/L sodium methoxide in methanol diethyl ether. A gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector determined the milk fatty acid profile. Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation tests evaluated association between the variables. Subsequently, a multiple linear regression model was built and multivariate regression analysis was applied.Results: Our findings revealed an inverse relationship between the consumption of total fruits and the polyunsaturated fatty acid profile and a direct association of the intake of total fruits and total grains with monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids.Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that maternal diet quality affects the fatty acid composition of breast milk.

Lecithin alleviates protein flocculation and enhances fat digestion in a model of infant formula emulsion

This study investigates whether lecithin could fasten lipolysis through the alleviation of protein aggregation in an infant formula emulsion model. Our previous study reported low intestinal digestion of infant formula could be due to the aggregation of proteins that slow lipid digestion. The emulsion contained lipids droplets simulating the fatty acid composition in breast milk, different levels of lecithin and milk protein. The interphase proteins were replaced with lecithin in a dose-dependent manner. The results showed the addition of 5% and 7% lecithin improves the physical stability, narrows the range of particle size, reduces the mean particle size and increases the zeta potential. The 5% lecithin emulsion showed the highest rate and extent of lipid and protein digestion. These positive effects were caused by lecithin through stabilizing the emulsion and suppressing droplet flocculation after digestion. Lecithin promotes lipid digestion and may improve the “insufficient fat supply” in infant formula.

Is fatty acid composition of breast milk different in various populations? A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to systematically review the fatty acid (FA) composition of breast milk in different populations. We systematically searched the Medline via PubMed, Scopus and Clarivate till July 2019. We initially retrieved 433 articles. Having removed duplicates, with initial searching of title and abstracts, 317 papers were excluded and 80 remained. A meta-analysis of 80 cross-sectional, cohort studies, including 8793 subjects, was conducted. Meta-regression analysis indicated that factors including maternal age (p-values of SFA: 0.03, omega-3: 0.01, trans fats:<0.001, total fatty acids: 0.02), year of conducting study (p-values of SFA: <0.001, MUFA: 0.02, omega-6: 0.04,trans fats: 0.04) and sample size (p-values of SFA: 0.03, PUFA: 0.01, omega-6: 0.01, omega-3:<0.001) contributed to the heterogeneity of meta-analysis. This study indicates the large variation of FA content in maternal milk across different populations. Special concern is necessary for both the quality and total amount of fat intake of pregnant and lactating mothers.

The investigation of fatty acid composition of breast milk and its relationship with dietary fatty acid intake in 5 regions of China.

To investigate the relationship between dietary fatty acid (FA) intake and the lactate FA levels in Chinese women.A total of 2007 samples from 5 regions of China were collected, including 431 in Shandong, 402 in Changchun, 419 in Chongqing, 398 in Guangzhou, and 357 women in Hohhot. All participants were mothers of healthy full-term newborns, collecting the foremilk from day 1 to day 7 and the mature breast milk on day 42 after delivery. The FA composition of the breast milk was analyzed by high resolution capillary gas chromatography.The total FA content of mature breast milk in Shandong was the highest (34.95 g/L), and that was the lowest in Guangzhou (29.72 g/L). The saturated FA content of breast milk was increased from 1 to 7 days after delivery and decreased in mature breast milk. The saturated FA content of breast milk in Hohhot was the highest (37.43%), but that was the lowest in Changchun (32.80%). Maternal dietary FA composition was positively correlated with saturated FAs (SFA), polyunsaturated FAs (PUFA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (P < .001), and negatively with monounsaturated FAs (MUFA) (P > .05) in breast milk.The FA content of breast milk is different in different regions of China, which was affected by maternal dietary FA composition. Lactating women in China should consume more foods rich in polyunsaturated FAs to ensure the growth of infant.

Niveau de consommation en acides gras polyinsaturés de la femme allaitante en France : étude de consommation INCA 2 et évolution du contenu en acides gras essentiels du lait maternel de 1997 à 2014

Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition data of the breast milk are rare but essential for assessing the adequate intake of fatty acids in the newborn and possibly directing the mother to a suitable diet or even supplementation with essential fatty acids. The raw data for lactating women from the national study on individual food consumption 2006-2007 (INCA 2) were combined with the French food composition table (Ciqual 2013) to assess their fatty acid intakes. Although this is a limited number of subjects, these data are still interesting to analyze and compare with current Anses recommendations. According to these results, omega 3 PUFA consumption is not sufficient for the purposes of the Recommended Dietary Intakes (RDI). In addition, it has been shown that the fatty acid composition of breast milk is a proven marker of dietary lipid consumption and a good reflection of the consumption's level of omega-6 and omega-3 PUFAs. Epidemiological data on quantity and quality of lipids consumed in France are rare. In the context of different observational and interventional studies conducted on breast milk, ITERG has been able to estimate the evolution of French food habits for nearly 17 years. A synthesis work has taken over all the data acquired during 3 clinical studies carried out between 1997 and 2014. This synthesis showed a positive evolution of the proportions in omega-3 PUFA in 17 years (1997-2014). However, the proportions of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in breast milk remain below nutritional recommendations for the newborn.

Fatty acid composition of breast milk in Galicia (NW Spain): A cross-country comparison

Based on the premise that the fatty acid composition of human milk can be substantially altered by diet, the current study investigated the fatty acid profile (fattyacidome) of breast milk in Galicia, a small region located in the north-west of Spain and characterized by the Southern European Atlantic Diet (SEAD). A cross-country comparison was also performed to assess worldwide variety and diet impact, reviewing the profiles reported various European, North and South American, Asian and African countries and Australia. Galician human milk appeared similar to the rest of Europe, with some particular features related to the SEAD (dairy, pork, beef and sunflower and olive oils), such as relatively high levels of linoleic acid and lower α-linolenic acid. The results also showed the existence of woman-specific profiles and significant changes over lactation in some fatty acids. Worldwide, the fatty acid profiles were similar, with the clear exception of Asiatic breast milk. The impact of fatty acids on infant health warrants further investigation.

Quantity and species of fish consumed shape breast-milk fatty acid concentrations around Lake Victoria, Kenya.

Long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) found in breast milk are derived from dietary sources and critical for optimal infant development. We examined associations between fish consumption and concentrations of LCPUFA and essential n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in breast milk among mothers living around Lake Victoria. We used cross-sectional analyses of associations between recent fish consumption and breast-milk fatty acid concentrations. The study was conducted around Lake Victoria on Mfangano Island, Kenya, where multiple fish species are key dietary components and also are widely exported. Breast-feeding mothers (n 60) provided breast-milk samples, anthropometric measurements and questionnaire responses. In the previous 3 d, 97 % of women consumed a mean of 178 (sd 111) g fish (~2 servings/3 d). Mean breast-milk concentrations included DHA (0·75 % of total fatty acids), EPA (0·16 %), α-linolenic acid (ALA; 0·54 %), arachidonic acid (AA; 0·44 %) and linoleic acid (LA; 12·7 %). Breast-milk DHA concentrations exceeded the global average of 0·32 % in fifty-nine of sixty samples. We found native cichlids (Cichlidae) and dagaa (Rastrineobola argentea) contributed high levels of DHA, EPA and AA to local diets. We also found evidence for associations between fish species consumed and breast-milk LCPUFA concentrations when controlling for intake of other fish species, maternal body mass, maternal age, child age and exclusive breast-feeding. The fatty acid composition of breast milk was influenced by the fish species consumed. Ensuring access to diverse fish and particularly inexpensive, locally available species, may be important for diet quality as well as infant growth and development.

Erythrocyte fatty acid composition of Nepal breast-fed infants.

Essential fatty acids play a critical role in the growth and development of infants, but little is known about the fatty acid status of populations in low-income countries. The objective was to describe the fatty acid composition of red blood cells (RBC) in breastfeed Nepali infants and a subsample of their mothers and to identify the main sources of fatty acids in the mother's diet, as well as the fatty acid composition of breast milk. RBC fatty acid composition was analyzed in a random sample of 303 infants and 72 mother, along with 68 breastmilk samples. Fatty acid profiles of the most important dietary fat sources were analyzed. Information on mother's diet and intake of fat was collected by three 24-h dietary recalls. In infant RBC's, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was the main n-3 fatty acid, and arachidonic acid (AA) was the major n-6 fatty acid. Total n-6 PUFA was three times higher than total n-3 PUFA. Height-for-age (HAZ) was positively associated with DHA status and AA status in multivariable models. The concentration of all fatty acids was higher in children, compared to mothers, except Total n-6 PUFA and Linoleic acid (LA) where no differences were found. The mother's energy intake from fat was 13% and cooking oil (sesame, mustard, soybean or sunflower oil) contributed 52% of the fat intake. RBC-DHA levels in both infants and mother was unexpected high taking into account few dietary DHA sources and the low DHA concentrations in breastmilk.

Amino Acid Composition of Breast Milk from Urban Chinese Mothers.

Human breast milk (BM) amino acid (AA) composition may be impacted by lactation stage or factors related to geographical location. The present cross-sectional study is aimed at assessing the temporal changes of BMAA over lactation stages in a large cohort of urban mothers in China. Four hundred fifty BM samples, collected in three Chinese cities covering eight months of lactation were analyzed for free (FAA) and total (TAA) AA by o-phthalaldehyde/ fluorenylmethylchloroformate (OPA/FMOC) derivatization. Concentrations and changes over lactation were aligned with previous reports. Both the sum and the individual TAA values significantly decreased during the first periods of lactation and then generally leveled off. Leucine and methionine were respectively the most and the least abundant indispensable amino acids across all the lactation stages, whereas glutamic acid + glutamine (Glx) was the most and cystine the least abundant dispensable AA. The contribution of FAA to TAA levels was less than 2%, except for free Glx, which was the most abundant FAA. In conclusion, the AA composition of the milk from our cohort of urban Chinese mothers was comparable to previous studies conducted in other parts of the world, suggesting that this is an evolutionary conserved trait largely independent of geographical, ethnic, or dietary factors.

Estimated Dietary Intakes of Arachidonic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid in Infants and Young Children Living in Developing Countries

Background/Aims: There are only few data on dietary arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake in infants from developing countries, and current global recommendations on intake during early life may not reflect the needs of the world's most vulnerable infants. The aim of the study was to provide estimates of intake of ARA and DHA in infants and young children aged 6-36 months who live in developing countries. Methods: FAO Food Balance Sheets and fatty acid composition data from Australian food composition tables were utilized to generate mean per capita intake estimates for DHA and ARA in developing countries. The median daily intake of DHA and ARA in children age 6-36 months in each country was determined by combining the fatty acid composition of breast milk and complementary foods with the estimated intakes being weighted according to median duration of any breastfeeding. Results: The median daily dietary intake for ARA and DHA across 76 developing countries was 64.0 and 48.9 mg/day, respectively. The lowest complementary food intake of ARA and DHA was present in countries with the lowest gross national income and highest birth rates. Conclusion: Global recommendations on ARA and DHA in early life need to reflect the specific needs of infants and families living in low income countries, and country-specific food policies should address gaps between recommended and achieved intakes.

Red blood cell membrane fatty acid composition in infants fed formulas with different lipid profiles

BackgroundThere is growing interest in the fatty acid composition of breast milk and substitute formulas used to replace or complement infant breastfeeding. AimThe aims of this study were to assess the impact of two follow-up infant formulas based on cow milk fat, vegetable oils and different docosahexaenoic (DHA) and arachidonic (ARA) acid content on red blood cell membrane fatty acid composition, and determine the percent saturated fatty acid (SFA) incorporation into the membrane. Study designThis was a double-blind, randomized, controlled, parallel-group clinical trial. Infants received treatment or control product for at least four months before the age of six months. The control group (n=25) received standard infant formula (FA) and the treatment group (n=24) received the same formula supplemented with higher DHA and ARA content (FB). The reference group (n=47) consisted of normal healthy exclusively breastfed infants. Outcome measureRed blood cell membrane fatty acid composition was determined by capillary gas chromatography. ResultsNinety-six infants completed the study (FA, 25; FB, 24; reference, 47). Higher DHA content reflected higher DHA percentage in the red blood cell membrane. Breast milk and FB did not show any significant differences in DHA content. ARA percentage was higher in breastfed infants and palmitic acid percentage was higher in FB- compared with FA-fed infants. ConclusionDHA and palmitic acid percent distributions were higher in the red blood cell membrane of infants receiving FB. DHA percent distribution was not significantly different in FB-fed and breastfed infants. SFA percent distribution was not significantly different when comparing both formulas with breast milk.