The roles of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy, lactation and infancy: review of current knowledge and consensus recommendations.
This paper reviews current knowledge on the role of the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6), in maternal and term infant nutrition as well as infant development. Consensus recommendations and practice guidelines for health-care providers supported by the World Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Early Nutrition Academy, and the Child Health Foundation are provided. The fetus and neonate should receive LC-PUFA in amounts sufficient to support optimal visual and cognitive development. Moreover, the consumption of oils rich in n-3 LC-PUFA during pregnancy reduces the risk for early premature birth. Pregnant and lactating women should aim to achieve an average daily intake of at least 200 mg DHA. For healthy term infants, we recommend and fully endorse breastfeeding, which supplies preformed LC-PUFA, as the preferred method of feeding. When breastfeeding is not possible, we recommend use of an infant formula providing DHA at levels between 0.2 and 0.5 weight percent of total fat, and with the minimum amount of AA equivalent to the contents of DHA. Dietary LC-PUFA supply should continue after the first six months of life, but currently there is not sufficient information for quantitative recommendations.
Koletzko
Berthold
B
Department of Pediatrics, University of Munich, München, Germany. Berthold.Koletzko@med.uni-muenchen.de
Lien
Eric
E
Agostoni
Carlo
C
Böhles
Hansjosef
H
Campoy
Cristina
C
Cetin
Irene
I
Decsi
Tamas
T
Dudenhausen
Joachim W
JW
Dupont
Cristophe
C
Forsyth
Stewart
S
Hoesli
Irene
I
Holzgreve
Wolfgang
W
Lapillonne
Alexandre
A
Putet
Guy
G
Secher
Niels J
NJ
Symonds
Mike
M
Szajewska
Hania
H
Willatts
Peter
P
Uauy
Ricardo
R
D001942:Breast Feeding; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D004537:Eicosanoic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000737:chemistry; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007774:Lactation; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011247:Pregnancy; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D004537:Eicosanoic Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; C094477:arachidic acid