Indicators of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid status of exclusively breastfed infants at delivery and after 20-22 days.
The fatty acid composition of plasma cholesterol esters (CE), erythrocytes (RBC) and mature milk from seven lactating/women and their exclusively breastfed newborns, living on Dominica, were studied. Blood samples were taken from umbilical cord and mother at birth. A sample of breastmilk was collected on day 20-22 postpartum, together with a blood sample from the baby. At birth, cord blood plasma CE and RBC total long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) contents were higher, and linoleic (18:2c, omega 6) and alpha-linolenic (18:3c, omega 3) acid contents lower, than in corresponding maternal compartments. Cord blood RBC LC-PUFA omega 3 content was lower and LC-PUFA omega 6 content higher than in maternal RBC. After birth, feeding with human milk led to a drop in LC-PUFA content in the plasma CE fraction, whereas RBC LC-PUFA content remained virtually constant. Current understanding of the origin and relative affinity of fatty acids incorporated in plasma CE and RBC suggests that RBC LC-PUFA content is a more reliable parameter for LC-PUFA status than plasma CE LC-PUFA content. The RBC LC-PUFA data suggest therefore that at birth the newborn has a lower LC-PUFA omega 3 status than the mother, and that this does not change during three weeks of exclusive breastfeeding.
van Beusekom
C M
CM
State University, Groningen, Netherlands.
Nijeboer
H J
HJ
van der Veere
C N
CN
Luteyn
A J
AJ
Offringa
P J
PJ
Muskiet
F A
FA
Boersma
E R
ER
D001942:Breast Feeding; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood* / Q000254:growth & development; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000378:metabolism
D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated