title: The roles of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy, lactation and infancy: review of current knowledge and consensus recommendations.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Munich, München, Germany. Berthold.Koletzko@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Berthold
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koletzko
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lien
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agostoni
authors.forename: Hansjosef
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Böhles
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campoy
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cetin
authors.forename: Tamas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Decsi
authors.forename: Joachim W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Dudenhausen
authors.forename: Cristophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dupont
authors.forename: Stewart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Forsyth
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hoesli
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Holzgreve
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lapillonne
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Putet
authors.forename: Niels J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Secher
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Symonds
authors.forename: Hania
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Szajewska
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Willatts
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Uauy
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D004537:Eicosanoic Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; C094477:arachidic acid