title: Human milk arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid contents increase following supplementation during pregnancy and lactation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) are important for neurodevelopment. Maternal diet influences milk DHA, whereas milk AA seems rather constant. We investigated milk AA, DHA and DHA/AA after supplementation of AA plus DHA, or DHA alone during pregnancy and lactation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women were supplemented with AA+DHA (220mg each/day), DHA (220mg/day) or placebo during pregnancy and lactation. Milk samples were collected at 2 (n=86) and 12 weeks (n=69) postpartum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Supplementation of AA+DHA elevated milk AA (week 2, 14%; week 12, 23%) and DHA (43% and 52%) as compared to placebo. DHA tended to decrease milk AA and vice versa. Milk AA, DHA and DHA/AA decreased from 2 to 12 weeks postpartum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Milk AA and in particular DHA are sensitive to maternal supplementation. It seems that maternal AA and notably DHA status decline with advancing lactation.
authors.affiliation: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UMCG, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands. s.a.van.goor@lc.umcg.nl
authors.forename: Saskia A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: van Goor
authors.forename: D A Janneke
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dijck-Brouwer
authors.forename: Mijna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadders-Algra
authors.forename: Bennard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Doornbos
authors.forename: Jan Jaap H M
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Erwich
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schaafsma
authors.forename: Frits A J
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Muskiet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D001942:Breast Feeding; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D010919:Placebos; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid