title: DHA supplementation during pregnancy and lactation affects infants' cellular but not humoral immune response.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is currently recommended that diet of pregnant mothers contain 200-300 mg DHA/day. Aim. To determine whether DHA supplementation during pregnancy and lactation affects infants' immune response.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 women in ≥3rd pregnancy studied; 30 randomly assigned to receive DHA 400 mg/day from 12th week gestation until 4 months postpartum. From breast-fed infants, blood obtained for anti-HBs antibodies, immunoglobulins, lymphocyte subset phenotyping, and intracellular cytokine production.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CD4+ lymphocytes did not differ between groups, but CD4CD45RA/CD4 (naïve cells) significantly higher in infants in DHA+ group. Proportion of CD4 and CD8 cells producing IFN(γ) significantly lower in DHA+ group, with no differences in proportion of IL4-producing cells. Immunoglobulins and anti-HBs levels did not differ between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In infants of mothers receiving DHA supplementation, a higher percentage of CD4 naïve cells and decreased CD4 and CD8 IFN(γ) production is compatible with attenuation of a proinflammatory response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaplan Medical Center, P.O. Box 1, Rehovot, Israel. ettie_g@clalit.org.il
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Granot
authors.forename: Einat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jakobovich
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rabinowitz
authors.forename: Paloma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlesinger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology*; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000276:immunology*; D007223:Infant; D007774:Lactation / Q000276:immunology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids