Fatty Acid Profile Of Breast Milk Research Articles

Docosahexaenoic acid-rich algae oil supplementation on breast milk fatty acid profile of mothers who delivered prematurely: a randomized clinical trial

Preterm infants are deficient in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a fatty acid (FA) associated with an increase in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). In two previous randomized control trials, DHA supplementation did not reduce the risk of BPD. We examined the breast milk FA profile, collected 14 days after birth, of mothers who delivered before 29 weeks of gestation and who were supplemented with DHA-rich algae oil or a placebo within 72 h after birth as part of the MOBYDIck trial. Milk FA were analyzed by gas chromatography. The total amount of FA (mg/mL) was similar in both groups but the supplementation increased DHA (expressed as % of total FA, mean ± SD, treatment vs placebo, 0.95 ± 0.44% vs 0.34 ± 0.20%; P < 0.0001), n-6 docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) (0.275 ± 0.14% vs 0.04 ± 0.04%; P < 0.0001) and eicosapentaenoic acid (0.08 ± 0.08% vs 0.07 ± 0.07%; P < 0.0001) while decreasing n-3 DPA (0.16 ± 0.05% vs 0.17 ± 0.06%; P < 0.05). Supplementation changed the ratio of DHA to arachidonic acid (1.76 ± 1.55% vs 0.60 ± 0.31%; P < 0.0001) and n-6 to n-3 FA (0.21 ± 0.06% vs 0.17 ± 0.04%; P < 0.0001). DHA-rich algae supplementation successfully increased the DHA content of breast milk but also included secondary changes that are closely involved with inflammation and may contribute to changing clinical outcomes.

Breast milk fatty acid profile in relation to infant growth and body composition: results from the INFAT study

There is some evidence that the n-6/n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) ratio in early nutrition, and thus in breast milk, could influence infant body composition. In an open-label randomized controlled trial (RCT), 208 healthy pregnant women were allocated to a dietary intervention (supplementation with 1,200 mg n-3 LCPUFAs per day and instructions to reduce arachidonic acid (AA) intake) from the 15th wk of gestation until 4 mo of lactation or to follow their habitual diet. Breast milk LCPUFAs at 6 wk and 4 mo postpartum were related to infant body composition assessed by skinfold thickness (SFT) measurements and ultrasonography during the first year of life. Dietary intervention significantly reduced breast milk n-6/n-3 LCPUFAs ratio. In the whole sample, early breast milk docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and n-3 LCPUFAs at 6 wk postpartum were positively related to the sum of four SFT measurements at age 1. Breast milk AA and n-6 LCPUFAs at 6 wk postpartum were negatively associated with weight, BMI, and lean body mass (LBM) up to 4 mo postpartum. Breast milk n-3 LCPUFAs appear to stimulate fat mass growth over the first year of life, whereas AA seems to be involved in the regulation of overall growth, especially in the early postpartum period.

Relationship between Mediterranean diet and breast milk fatty acid profile: a study in breastfeeding women in Croatia

The composition of breast milk secreted by Mediterranean women is still under-investigated. Due to the specific Mediterranean diet, the fatty acid profile of such milk could be distinctive. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between maternal diet and fatty acid profile of the mature milk obtained from 83 breastfeeding women residing in the coastal Croatia, lactating for 5–25 weeks. Their diet was evaluated using two consecutive 24-h recalls, while the fatty acid milk content was determined using gas chromatography. Among the dietary intake of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated dietary fatty acids, the most represented were palmitic (21.70 g.day−1), oleic (29.20 g.day−1) and linoleic acid (13.81 g.day−1), with the ratio of total dietary n−6/n−3 fatty acids of 12.01. In milk, the most represented primary monounsaturated fatty acid was oleic acid (39.63%), while the most represented saturated fatty acid was palmitic acid (20.65%). The share of linoleic, α-linolenic and docosahexaenoic fatty acid was 17.28%, 1.41% and 0.21%, respectively. The correlation between dietary fatty acids and their breast milk concentrations was established for docosahexaenoic (r = 0.54, P < 0.001), linoleic (r = 0.24, P = 0.032), palmitic (r = 0.18, P = 0.021) and oleic acid (r = 0.21, P = 0.024). In conclusion, the issue of concern is the sub-optimal dietary intake of n−3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, resulting in their low breast milk concentrations, especially that of docosahexaenoic acid. Given its biological importance, the impact of fatty acid profile on infant health should be further investigated.

Polyunsaturated fatty acid content of mother’s milk is associated with childhood body composition

The consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids has changed, and the prevalence of adiposity has increased over the past 30 y. A decrease of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content in breast milk has been suggested to be a contributing factor. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content and n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio in breast milk, body composition, and timing of adiposity rebound in children. In the Copenhagen Prospective Study on Asthma in Childhood birth cohort, breast milk fatty acid profile was determined in 281 mothers and BMI development was prospectively followed up to the age of 7 y in 222 children. Age and BMI at adiposity rebound were registered. Furthermore, fat mass determination by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry was performed in 207 children at 6-9 y of age. There was a significant association between breast milk DHA and BMI from 2 to 7 y, fat mass, and, for the girls, age at adiposity rebound. No associations were found between the breast milk n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio and body composition. Early intake of DHA may have an effect on body composition. Dietary habits of lactating mothers could contribute to the increased prevalence of obesity in Western societies.

Breast milk fat concentration and fatty acid pattern during the first six months in exclusively breastfeeding Greek women

To determine fat and fatty acid (FA) profile of Greek mother's milk during the first 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding and to examine their correlation with dietary and other maternal characteristics. Milk samples and dietary records were obtained by mothers at 1st (n = 64), 3rd (n = 39), and 6th (n = 24) month postpartum. Fatty acid methylesters were separated and quantified by gas chromatography (GC/FID) and fat concentration by the creamatocrit method. At the 3 time points, milk fat concentration ranged between 26.3 and 30.2 g/l (p > 0.05). Milk's FA composition was expressed as weight percentage (% wt/wt of all FAs detected with a C6 to C22 chain length). Maternal macronutrient and FA dietary intake, as well as the FAs' profile in maternal milk, remained constant over the 6 months. Saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) represented approx. 46, 35, and 18 % of all FAs, while ω6 and ω3 PUFA were 17.4 and 0.8 %, respectively. Body weight gain during pregnancy was positively related to breast milk's concentration in SFA (p < 0.01) and negatively to milk's concentration in MUFA (p < 0.01). Age and parity were also independent factors affecting the FA profile in maternal milk. A strong positive effect was found during the first month postpartum, between mother's PUFA intake and the concentration of PUFA, ω3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic and linoleic acid (LA) in the milk, while MUFA intake was strongly correlated with the concentration of PUFA, ω6 fatty acids, and LA. This study is among few in literature to determine FA profile of breast milk in European populations and verified certain dietary factors that influence this profile. Maternal PUFA and MUFA intake were found to be important factors affecting breast milk's FA profile.