Effect of maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on breast milk composition

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorMakrides, M.
dc.contributor.authorNeumann, M.
dc.contributor.authorGibson, R.
dc.date.issued1996
dc.description.abstractOBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of varying maternal intake of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22 : 6n-3), in the absence of other dietary polyunsaturates, on breast milk fatty acids. DESIGN AND INTERVENTION: Lactating mothers were randomised on day 5 post-partum to groups consuming equal numbers of capsules but containing either placebo or an oil containing DHA (43%) as its only polyunsaturate to receive 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.9, 1.3 g DHA/day. Breast milk fatty acids as well as maternal plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids were assessed at 12 weeks post partum by capillary gas chromatography. RESULTS: Breast milk DHA levels ranged from 0.2 to 1.7% of total fatty acids and increased in a dose dependent manner (r2 = 0.89, P < 0.01). Maternal plasma (r2 = 0.71, P < 0.01) and erythrocyte (r2 = 0.77, P < 0.01) phospholipid DHA levels increased and were also strongly associated with dietary dose of DHA. Increasing maternal dietary doses of DHA did not affect breast milk arachidonic acid (AA, 20 : 4n-6) levels or antioxidant status as measured by plasma vitamin A or E levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our results have demonstrated that DHA in the diet has a strong, specific and dose-dependent effect on breast milk DHA.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityMakrides M, Neumann MA, Gibson RA.
dc.identifier.citationEuropean Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1996; 50(6):352-357
dc.identifier.issn0954-3007
dc.identifier.issn1476-5640
dc.identifier.orcidMakrides, M. [0000-0003-3832-541X]
dc.identifier.orcidGibson, R. [0000-0002-8750-525X]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/93586
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherNature Publishing Group
dc.rightsCopyright status unknown
dc.subjectDose-Response Relationship, Drug
dc.titleEffect of maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on breast milk composition
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

Files

Collections

Agriculture, Food and Wine publications