LC-PUFA content in human milk: is it always optimal?
The content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) in human milk has been connected with infant growth and developmental indices. The LC-PUFA content of human milk usually reflects the dietary habits of mothers, so questions have been raised regarding the possibility of enriching maternal diet with LC-PUFAs during lactation (or even before) in order to improve infant outcome. Nevertheless, environmental and genetic factors have independent roles in affecting both maternal milk composition and infant development.


CONCLUSIONS
Diet-related differences in the LC-PUFA composition of human milk are under active investigation for their possible contribution to infant development, but environment- and gene-related differences in both human milk composition and maternal diet should be considered in evaluating the adaptive mechanisms of infants and the effects of specific LC-PUFA dietary supplementations.
Agostoni
Carlo
C
Department of Paediatrics, University of Milan, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy. carlo.agostoni@unimi.it
D001942:Breast Feeding; D002657:Child Development; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy
D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated