title: Intakes and breast-milk concentrations of essential fatty acids are low among Bangladeshi women with 24-48-month-old children.
abstract: Maternal fat intake and adipose reserves are major sources of PUFA during lactation. The present study examined the cross-sectional relationship between prolonged breast-feeding and maternal BMI, assessed adequacy of fat intake among lactating and non-lactating mothers of children 24-48 months of age and determined breast-milk fatty acid composition. Multi-stage sampling was used to select a representative sample of mothers from two rural districts in Bangladesh (n 474). Dietary data were collected during two non-consecutive 24 h periods via 12 h in-home daytime observations and recall. The National Cancer Institute method for episodically consumed foods was used to estimate usual intake distributions. Breast milk samples were collected from ninety-eight women, and breast-milk fatty acid methyl esters were quantified using GC. Approximately 42 % of lactating v. 26 % of non-lactating mothers were underweight (BMI < 18·5 kg/m2; P = 0·0003). The maternal diet was low in total fat (approximately 8 % of mean total energy) and food sources of PUFA, including oil and animal source foods, resulting in a low estimated mean total consumption of PUFA (5·1 g/d). Almost all women were estimated to consume less than the recommended intake levels for total fat, total PUFA, α-linolenic acid (ALA) and DHA. Median breast-milk linoleic acid (8·5 % weight) and ALA (0·2 %) concentrations were among the lowest reported in the literature, in contrast with arachidonic acid (0·5 %) and DHA (0·3 %) concentrations, which were mid-range. Bangladeshi women in general, and especially those who practise prolonged breast-feeding, may benefit from increased consumption of food sources of PUFA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA. eyakes@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Yakes
authors.forename: Joanne E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Arsenault
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Munirul Islam
authors.forename: Mohammad B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Tahmeed
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bruce German
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Gillies
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shafiqur Rahman
authors.forename: Christiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drake
authors.forename: Kazi M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Jamil
authors.forename: Bess L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Kenneth H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005504:Food Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012424:Rural Population; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential