title: Maternal DHA equilibrium during pregnancy and lactation is reached at an erythrocyte DHA content of 8 g/100 g fatty acids.
abstract: Low long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA, or LCP) consumption relates to suboptimal neurodevelopment, coronary artery disease, and [postpartum (PP)] depression. Maternal-to-infant LCP transport during pregnancy and lactation is at the expense of maternal status, a process known as biomagnification. Despite biomagnification, maternal and infant LCP status generally declines during lactation. To assess the 1) turning point of biomagnification [level from which maternal (m)LCP status exceeds infant (i)LCP status]; 2) LCP equilibrium (steady-state-level from which mRBC-LCP stop declining during lactation); 3) corresponding iLCP-status; and 4) the relationship between RBC-DHA and RBC-arachidonic acid (AA), we measured RBC-fatty acids in 193 Tanzanian mother-infant pairs with no, intermediate (2-3 times/wk), and high (4-5 times/wk) freshwater fish consumption at delivery and after 3 mo of exclusive breast-feeding. At 3 mo, mRBC-DHA was lower than the corresponding iRBC-DHA up to a mRBC-DHA of 7.9 g%. mRBC-DHA equilibrium, with equivalent mRBC-DHA at both delivery and at 3 mo PP, occurred at 8.1 g%. This mRBC-DHA equilibrium of 8.1 g% corresponded with an iRBC-DHA of 7.1-7.2 g% at delivery that increased to 8.0 g% at 3 mo. We found between-group differences in mRBC-AA; however, no differences in iRBC-AA were observed at delivery or 3 mo. Relations between RBC-DHA and RBC-AA were bell-shaped. We conclude that, at steady-state LCP intakes during lactation: 1) biomagnification occurs up to 8 g% mRBC-DHA; 2) mRBC-DHA equilibrium is reached at 8 g%; 3) mRBC-DHA equilibrium corresponds with an iRBC-DHA of 7 g% at delivery and 8 g% after 3 mo; 4) unlike RBC-DHA, mRBC-AA and iRBC-AA are independently regulated in these populations; and 5) bell-shaped RBC-DHA vs. RBC-AA-relations might support uniform iRBC-AA. A (maternal) RBC-DHA of 8 g% might be optimal for infant neurodevelopment and adult cardiovascular disease incidence.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands. remkokuipers@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Remko S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kuipers
authors.forename: Martine F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Luxwolda
authors.forename: Wicklif S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Sango
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kwesigabo
authors.forename: D A Janneke
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dijck-Brouwer
authors.forename: Frits A J
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Muskiet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004032:Diet; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D017747:Seafood
chemical_list: D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid