title: Modification of Docosahexaenoic Acid Composition of Milk from Nursing Women Who Received Alpha Linolenic Acid from Chia Oil during Gestation and Nursing.
abstract: α-Linolenic acid (ALA) is the precursor of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in humans, which is fundamental for brain and visual function. Western diet provides low ALA and DHA, which is reflected in low DHA in maternal milk. Chia oil extracted from chia (Salvia hispanica L.), a plant native to some Latin American countries, is high in ALA (up to 60%) and thereby is an alternative to provide ALA with the aim to reduce DHA deficits. We evaluated the modification of the fatty acid profile of milk obtained from Chilean mothers who received chia oil during gestation and nursing. Forty healthy pregnant women (22-35 years old) tabulated for food consumption, were randomly separated into two groups: a control group with normal feeding (n = 21) and a chia group (n = 19), which received 16 mL chia oil daily from the third trimester of pregnancy until the first six months of nursing. The fatty acid profile of erythrocyte phospholipids, measured at six months of pregnancy, at time of delivery and at six months of nursing, and the fatty acid profile of the milk collected during the first six months of nursing were assessed by gas-chromatography. The chia group, compared to the control group, showed (i) a significant increase in ALA ingestion and a significant reduction of linoleic acid (LA) ingestion, no showing modification of arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and DHA; (ii) a significant increase of erythrocyte ALA and EPA and a reduction of LA. AA and DHA were not modified; (iii) a increased milk content of ALA during the six months of nursing, whereas LA showed a decrease. AA and EPA were not modified, however DHA increased only during the first three months of nursing. Consumption of chia oil during the last trimester of pregnancy and the first three months of nursing transiently increases the milk content of DHA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Av. Independencia 1027, Independencia, Santiago 8380453, Chile. rvalenzuelab@med.uchile.cl.|Lipid Center, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA), University of Chile, Av. El Líbano 5524, Macul, Santiago 8380453, Chile. rvalenzuelab@med.uchile.cl.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valenzuela
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Av. Independencia 1027, Independencia, Santiago 8380453, Chile. kbascunan@med.uchile.cl.
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bascuñán
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Av. Independencia 1027, Independencia, Santiago 8380453, Chile. rodrigochamorro@med.uchile.cl.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chamorro
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Av. Independencia 1027, Independencia, Santiago 8380453, Chile. cynthia.barrera@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barrera
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Clinical Hospital of the University of Chile, Av. Santos Dumont 999, Independencia, Santiago 8380453, Chile. jsandoval@hcuch.cl.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sandoval
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Clinical Hospital of the University of Chile, Av. Santos Dumont 999, Independencia, Santiago 8380453, Chile. cpuigrredon@hcuch.cl.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Puigrredon
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Av. Independencia 1027, Independencia, Santiago 8380453, Chile. gparraguez@ug.uchile.cl.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parraguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Av. Independencia 1027, Independencia, Santiago 8380453, Chile. p_orellana@ug.uchile.cl.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Orellana
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Av. Independencia 1027, Independencia, Santiago 8380453, Chile. vale_elba@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Lipid Center, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA), University of Chile, Av. El Líbano 5524, Macul, Santiago 8380453, Chile. avalenzu@inta.uchile.cl.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valenzuela
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002677:Chile; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D002149:Energy Intake; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000032:analysis; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D027544:Salvia / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D010743:Phospholipids; D010938:Plant Oils; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid
keywords: ALA and DHA  in milk; chia oil; erythrocyte phospholipids; pregnancy and nursing